HARTSVILLE, S.C.-The Anderson University softball team lost the opening round of the double elimination South Atlantic Conference Tournament to the #4 seed Coker, 6-1, on Thursday afternoon at Byerly Park in Hartsville, S.C.
Anderson drops to 34-15 overall while Coker improves to 36-17.
The Trojans will play #8 Queens in an elimination game on Friday with first pitch slated for 12:30 p.m.
Coker 6, Anderson 1
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Five different Trojans picked up a hit, but could not string any together to produce enough runs to fend off the Cobras. Anderson's Meghan Majeski, Breanna Hagerty, Ali Anderson and Augie Pena each recorded singles while Cailah Niles had the lone extra base hit for the Black and Gold.
Coker's Taylor Forehand (13-2), an All-SAC Honorable Mention honoree pitched 4.1 innings giving up five hits and one run while striking out two. Forehand was lifted in favor Nikki Linthicum pitching 2.2 innings of hitless ball to help preserve the victory for the Cobras.
Augie Pena (16-7) was tagged with the loss after 2.1 innings of work. Pena gave up four hits and four runs before being replaced by Lauren Rudesheim. Rudesheim pitched the final 3.2 innings giving up six hits and the final two runs for the Cobras.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Coker jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after three innings of play scoring one in the first and second inning and tacking on two more in the bottom of the third.
The Trojans lone run came in the top half of the fourth inning. Senior Courtney Czentnar reached first on a free pass moving to second on an infield out by Hagerty. Pena hit a ball through the middle scoring Czentnar from second. Anderson drew a one-out walk with the inning ending on a double play when Smith's line drive to short and the Cobras eliminating Anderson at first.
Coker held Anderson scoreless over the final three innings while adding two more to its side in the bottom of the fifth to set the final score at 6-1.
UP NEXT
The Trojans will play #8 Queens in an elimination game on Friday. First pitch is slated for 12:30 p.m. at Byerly Park in Hartsville, S.C.
