BELMONT, N.C. - The Coker baseball team once again utilized a big ninth inning to propel itself past the Belmont Abbey Crusaders for the second time this season on Tuesday (Mar. 22), as the Cobras took the decision by an 8-7 scoreline.
Coker took the lead early behind an RBI groundout from reigning South Atlantic Conference Player of the Week Kody Hanna that scored Phill Griffor to make it 1-0. Belmont Abbey jumped back in front in the bottom of the first with a two-run home run. The Cobras struck again in the top of the second inning, this time on a Tripp Kimmel RBI single to score Jackson Williams. The Crusaders answered back in the bottom half, as they pushed two more across the plate to make the score 4-2 in their favor.
Both teams were held scoreless in the third and fourth, but the Cobras got back on the board in the fifth. Andrew Scudder and Reilly Hall led off the inning with back-to-back singles. An RBI double from Cory Listing scored Scudder and an RBI groundout from Brady Jeffcoat tied the game back up at 4-4. The Crusaders once again had an answer, as they posted two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to retake the lead and run the score to 6-4.
The score held at 6-4 until the top of the ninth behind the strong work by the bullpens of both teams. Andrew Scudder got the rally going with a leadoff single to bring Reilly Hall to the plate. For the second time this season against Belmont Abbey, Hall found a pitch he liked and drove it over the outfield fence for a game-tying two-run home run in the ninth inning. The Cobras were not done however, as Cory Listing walked and scored on a Brady Jeffcoat RBI double. Jeffcoat scampered home on an Eli Hopkins RBI single to make it 8-6. Belmont Abbey got one run back in the bottom of the ninth, but Ethan Graham recorded the final two outs to shut the door and earn the save.
Coker was balanced throughout on the offensive end, as every player in the starting lineup recorded at least one hit. Hall, Williams, Listing, and Scudder each tallied two base knocks on the afternoon. Hall and Jeffcoat had two RBI apiece, while Listing, Hanna, Hopkins, and Kimmel all had one run driven in.
The Cobras received another stellar effort out of the bullpen, as Collin Breland, Nolan Leger, Matt Poole, Britton Adams, Cody Chapman, Reid Watkins, and Ethan Graham combined to throw seven innings in relief, only allowing two earned runs and striking out five batters. Freshman Cody Chapman earned the win on the mound, his second of the year, and Ethan Graham recorded his first career save.
The Cobras will return to Hartsville this weekend to host Tusculum University in a three game SAC series. First pitch for Friday's (Mar. 25) game is scheduled for 6pm, with live video and statistics available at www.cokercobras.com.