Grant Thompson and RJ Ball Lead Cobras to First Victory of the Season
MURFREESBORO, N.C. -- The Coker College baseball team picked up their first win of the season, splitting a doubleheader with Chowan on Sunday (Feb. 3).
The Cobras downed Chowan 7-3 in the first game, but dropped the second game by a final score of 8-3.
Game One
Five Cobras had at least two hits in the first game, including RJ Ball who finished 3-3 with a walk and two RBI in the game.
Coker struck for one run in the top of the first off of an RJ Ball single to left field scoring Lake Lybrand. They extended their lead to 4-0 when Larry McCabe roped a double, scoring both Ball and Reilly Hall.
Larry McCabe picked up a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning, and Casey Demko singled to left in the sixth to give the Cobras their sixth run. Freshman Evan Pawlowski knocked in Coker's final run with a single in the seventh inning, scoring pinch runner Nicolas Hertzfeld.
Derek Balbierz picked up his first Coker victory, going five innings and allowing just three runs. Drake Knight earned his first save of the season with two innings of scoreless relief.
Game Two
Grant Thompson continued his hot start to the season, going 2-3 in the game, and finishing 8-15 with a double and two RBI in the four-game series.
RJ Ball, Matt Swiderski, and Chase Bruno all doubled in the game, and Ball finished with his second consecutive multi-hit game, going 2-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
The Cobras will be back in action on Tuesday for their home opener against St. Andrews. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.