SOFTBALL SPLITS WITH BARTON IN COMPETITIVE SERIES

Hartsville, SC - What started in a dominant 11-0 win in Game 1 ended dramatically as clutch offense secured both a 12-11 win in Game 2 and a sweep for Coker Softball.

By The Numbers:

Final Score: Coker 4, Barton 1 (Game 1) | Barton 5, Coker 3 (Game 2)
Records: Coker 6-6 (0-0 SAC), Barton 4-6 (0-0 PBC)
Location: Hartsville, SC | Saleeby-Stokes Field

Top Performers

Ariana Fair: 2 hits in 3 at-bats, 2 runs, 1 walk, 3 stolen bases (Game 1)
Madie Andrews: Pitched a complete game with 5 strikeouts and 1 earned run (Game 1)

How It Happened:

Game 1: In a great overall performance for the Cobras, the team took a 4-1 win over the Bulldogs to begin the day. The Cobras got the scoring going in their first inning of play as Bailee Gaskins put a sacrifice fly out to left field to score Fair (who had stolen second and third base (just prior) to be able to put them in that position). Just after, the Bulldogs tied it with a run of their own in the top of the second, tying this contest at 1-1. The Cobras took the lead back in the bottom of the fourth when Carter Freeman hit an RBI single out to right field that scored Andrews, taking the lead at 2-1. They then added two more insurance runs to round off the game in the bottom of the fifth, with Fair scoring on an error and Payton Brigman hitting an RBI single to score Gaskins to wrap this one up.

Game 2: A close game through and through, the Cobras fell 5-3 due to a big sixth inning by the Bulldogs. Yet again, it was the Cobras opening the scoring with an Andrews two-RBI double to score Fair and Mya Cribbs to give them a quick 2-0 lead. After a scoreless second inning by both teams, the Bulldogs answered in the top of the third, scoring two runs to tie this one up at 2-2. Another scoreless inning in the fourth brought us to the fifth, where the Cobras struck back with a Fair sacrifice fly to score Emma Rushing and take a 3-2 lead. In the late innings of play, it was the Bulldogs that walked away with the 5-3 victory after a three-run inning in the top of the sixth.

Notables

• Fair is on a tear to begin the season, having 14 hits in 27 at-bats for a whopping .519 batting average. She had another big day today and has been the epitome of consistency at the top of the lineup.
• Two other Cobras with a significant number of at-bats are hitting .400+ in the form of Freeman (.400) and Cheyenne Palmer (.419)

Up Next

The Cobras will remain at home for their next contest as they host USC Beaufort in a doubleheader on Sunday at Saleeby-Stokes Field. First pitch for Game 1 is scheduled for 1:00 PM ET.