Loraine Locks in 5-4 Win for Cobras

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Zach Loraine tossed two innings of shutout baseball, picking up his seventh save of the season and securing Coker's 5-4 win over Pfeiffer on Friday (Mar. 15) in Conference Carolinas baseball action.  The win improves the Cobras to 15-7 overall and 7-3 in league play.

Both teams exchanged runs in the first three innings, posting a 3-3 tie heading into the fourth. After two scoreless innings, the Cobras broke the tie when Ernie Kirkwood led off the sixth inning with a triple and was then driven home with a double by T.J. Giczkowski, making it a 4-3 game.

A solo homer by Pfeiffer's Jon Gray in the top of the seventh tied the game once again, but the Cobras scored the eventual game-winner in the bottom half of the inning. Justin Blechle led off the bottom of the seventh with a double to left field. He then advanced to third on a fielder's choice from Keith Wolf and finally came around to score the game-winner, thanks to an RBI from Brinley Griffin.

Tyler Witzel (5-2) scattered eight hits and allowed four runs with a strikeout to earn the win. Loraine (7) picked up the save, throwing two scoreless and hitless innings with a strikeout.

Fico Kondla led the Cobras at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Blechle finished the game with a pair of doubles and a run scored, while Kirkwood had a pair of hits, including a triple and a run scored. Giczkowski, Griffin and Frank Suarez each drove in a run for the Cobras as well.

Coker and Pfeiffer will complete their three-game conference series on Saturday (Mar. 16) with a double-header starting at noon at Coker's Tom J. New Field. 

McDonald's Player of the Game- Zach Loraine