GREENWOOD, S.C. – The Coker College softball team (12-2) split a non-conference road doubleheader against the Lander University Bearcats on Tuesday (Feb. 21). The Cobras took take one by a score of 9-5. Lander picked up the win in game two by a score of 3-1.
Coker struck first in game one, as back-to-back doubles by Hannah Price and Allyson High put the Navy and Gold ahead 1-0. Lander responded with two runs of its own in the bottom of the second inning to take a 2-1 advantage. After a scoreless third inning, a sacrifice fly by High in the fourth inning tied things up back at 2-2. The Bearcats added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning, to regain a one-run advantage. The Cobras exploded for six runs in the fifth inning to take an 8-3 lead. An RBI single by Cacey Simmons scored Augusta Jackson, who doubled to lead off the inning. A two-RBI double by Maria Williamson scored Simmons and Hannah Goodman. Barcomb reached on an error, scoring a run, then a double by Price scored Barcomb from second. An RBI single by High capped off the six-run inning, scoring Barcomb. Lander chipped into the Coker lead, scoring two in the bottom of the sixth, cutting the Coker lead to 8-5. Another sac fly by High in the seventh inning provided an insurance run and lifted Coker to its eventual 9-5 win in game one.
High and Price led the way with multi-hit games. High was 2-for-2 with four RBIs, while Price was 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored. Kelsi Bachmann, Simmons, Barcomb, Jackson and Goodman all picked up hits in the win.
Jackson also picked up her second win in the circle. She allowed five hits and scattered two runs in 3.1 innings in relief.
In game two, Williamson belted a two-out home run in the top of the first inning, putting Coker ahead 1-0. Back-to-back errors by the Navy and Gold in the bottom half of the first allowed Lander to tie it back up at 1-1. Neither side could plate a run until the bottom of the fifth inning, when a two-run home run by Lander gave the Bearcats a 3-1 advantage. Coker could not respond in the sixth or seventh inning, giving Lander the 3-1 win in game two.
Bachmann and Williamson recorded the two hits for the Cobras in game two. Williamson led the way with a RBI.
Nikki Linthicum was hit with her first loss of the season. She allowed two earned runs in 4.1 innings of work, scattering just five hits.
The Cobras will be back in action on Saturday (Feb. 25) for the Coker Spring Tournament.