Cobras Brave the Rain and Cold to Sweep Clarion

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker baseball team made the best of a cold and rainy St. Patrick's Day by sweeping the Clarion Golden Eagles, 5-0 and 7-3, in a non-conference double-header on Monday (Mar. 17).  With the wins the Cobras improve to 16-9 on the season.

The Cobras scored five unanswered runs in the first inning of game one to earn the win. The scoring started with a three-run triple by Ernie Kirkwood. Chase Spivey followed with an RBI double and Dustin Russell brought home the final run.

The Coker pitching staff did the rest as seven pitchers toed the rubber to earn the combined shut out. Starter Adam Webb (3-0) earned the win with a scoreless inning of work. He allowed just one hit.

Kirkwood finished the game 2-for-3 with a triple and three RBIs, while Spivey was 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI.  Fico Kondla, T.J. Giczkowski and Jarren Donato each had a hit as well in game one.

In game two, Coker struck first with two runs in the second inning. Clarion scored its first run of the day in the top of the third, cutting the lead to one, but the Cobras answered with another run in the bottom half of the inning, regaining the two run advantage. Coker tacked on three insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth for a 6-1 lead.

The Golden Eagles and Cobras exchanged runs in the fifth, and Clarion scored another run in the top of the sixth made it a 7-3 game. The game was then called on a count of rain, giving Coker the win.

Forrest Arnold (3-1) picked up the win. He tossed two scoreless innings, allowed two hits and had a strikeout.

Kondla drove in two runs, while Giczkowski, Sammy Song, Tyler Bires and Shea Bell each drove a run and Will Winslow was 2-for-2 with two runs scored.

The Cobras will return to the diamond on Wednesday (Mar. 19) for a non-conference game against UNC Pembroke at home at 3 p.m.

McDonald's Player of the Game – Fico Kondla