Larson Leads Coker to Victory at Mars Hill

MARS HILL, N.C. – Junior pitcher Patrick Larson tossed a gem in relief to lead the Coker University baseball team to a 3-2 victory over Mars Hill at Henderson Field on Friday afternoon to open South Atlantic Conference play.

Larson entered in relief of starter Casey Cleghorn with one out in the fourth inning and proceeded to throw 5.2 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits while striking out four to earn the win.

The Cobras scored all three of their runs in the second inning that provided all the offense they would need for their first victory of the season and a win to open conference play.

BY THE NUMBERS:

Coker 1-5 (1-0) | Mars Hill 1-6 (0-1)

• Mars Hill outhit Coker, 8-5.  

• Dimitri Sabino has hit safely in five straight games that include two multi-hit games. 

• Patrick Larson earned the first victory of his Coker career.              

TOP PERFORMERS:

P Patrick Larson: W, 5.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 4 Ks

LF Barak Boston: RBI single

2B Dimitri Sabino: 1 H, 1 run scored

1B Colton Penner: 1 H, 1 run scored

3B: Luke Miller: SAC Fly, 1 RBI

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Coker opened the scoring with three runs in the second inning. Luke Miller lifted a sacrifice fly to score Dimitri Sabino, Barak Boston followed with an RBI single that plated Elijah Jordan and Luke Peterson drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Colton Penner.

Mars Hill got on the board in the fourth with a two-run double, but Coker escaped further damage by turning a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat.

Patrick Larson allowed just three hits over the final five innings to secure the victory.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Coker wraps up the SAC series at Mars Hill on Saturday with a DH starting at 11AM. The games can be watched live on FloSports.