EMORY, Va. – The Coker University Baseball Team (14-20, 5-10 SAC) defeated Emory & Henry College (8-23, 2-10 SAC) in both games of a Sunday doubleheader to complete the three-game sweep. The Cobras won the first game 13-8 before taking the nightcap by a 9-7 final score.
The Basics
GAME ONE – Coker 13, Emory & Henry 8
GAME TWO – Coker 9, Emory & Henry 7 (seven innings)
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Porterfield-DeVault Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (8-23, 2-10 SAC); Coker (14-20, 5-10 SAC)
Game One – Coker 13, Emory & Henry 8
Both teams were held off of the scoreboard through the first two innings but Coker struck first in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly from Caleb McCants to make it 1-0. The Cobras tacked on three more in the top of the fourth on a three-run shot off the bat of Ashby Vining to run their advantage to 4-0.
The Wasps would respond in the home half of the fourth inning. Junior third baseman Cole Cunningham (Wake Forest, N.C.) was hit by a pitch and fifth-year first baseman Matthew Long (Willow Spring, N.C.) reached on an error with nobody out. Senior designated hitter Jermie Greene, Jr. (Troutman, N.C.) and senior outfielder Christian Schmidt (Fuquay-Varina, N.C.) drilled back-to-back RBI singles to cut the deficit to 4-2. Junior shortstop Jared Foley (Sparta, N.C.) came up clutch with a two-out two RBI single to even the score at 4-4 after four innings.
E&H pushed in front in the bottom of the fifth inning on an RBI single from Greene Jr. to score junior outfielder Wayne Mize (Salisbury, N.C.) and give the Wasps their first lead of the game at 5-4. The Cobras answered in the top of the seventh with an RBI single from Caleb McCants to tie the game once more at 5-5. Greene Jr. gave the Wasps the lead again in the bottom of the seventh on another RBI single to score Mize and make it 6-5.
Coker would not go away as Kody Hanna hit a solo home run in the top of the eighth inning to tie the game for the third time at 6-6 and the Cobras exploded for seven runs in the top of the ninth inning to give themselves the 13-6 advantage. Greene Jr. capped off his 5-5 game with a two-run home run over the fence in left field in the ninth, but it was not enough as Coker took game one 13-8.
Ethan Graham earned the win on the hill for the Cobras as he went three innings, allowing two runs and five hits while striking out one. Junior right-handed pitcher Hunter Kirkpatrick (Albany, Ore.) was saddled with the loss as he surrendered four hits and four runs over two innings of work. Greene Jr. finished the game 5-5 with a home run and tied the program record with five RBI.
Game Two – Coker 9, Emory & Henry 7(seven innings)
The Wasps got the scoring going in game two. After a scoreless top of the first, Mize drew a two-out walk and Cunningham sent a pitch over the fence in left to give E&H the early 2-0 lead. Long then doubled down the left field line, Greene Jr. drew a walk and junior catcher Lane Gay (Keedysville, Md.) laced a single into right to score Long and make it 3-0. The Cobras struck back in the top of the second inning with one run and tied things up in the top of the third on a two-run home run from Hanna, his fifth long ball of the weekend, to even the score at 3-3.
The Cobras jumped ahead in the top of the fifth on an RBI single from Donovan Frayer to give them the 4-3 advantage. E&H immediately answered in the home half of the fifth. Mize singled and Greene, Jr. and Gay were issued back-to-back walks to load the bases. Fifth-year shortstop Mason Lyda (Bessemer City, N.C.) then drew a bases-loaded walk to tie things up at 4-4. Junior second baseman Triston Hensley (Covington, Va.) came up clutch with a two-out single, scoring two and making it 6-4. Lyda then scampered home on a failed pick-off attempt and the Wasps led 7-4.
The Cobras mounted a two-out rally in the top of the sixth, as they capitalized on a pair of Wasp errors to push across three runs and tie the game once more at 7-7. Coker then retook the lead in the top of the seventh inning as they utilized a base hit, a hit-by-pitch and another Wasp error to load the bases. Cam Ferrell delivered a two-out, two-RBI single to right field to give the Cobras the lead and the win by a 9-7 final.
Cooper Thomas picked up his third win of the year after working 2.1 scoreless innings in relief. Senior righty Zach Clover (Cary, N.C.) was the tough-luck loser on the afternoon, as he gave up five unearned runs over 2.1 innings while striking out a pair of batters.
Up Next
Emory & Henry hits the road on Tuesday to face off against Southwest Virginia rival the University of Virginia's College at Wise. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at Stallard Field in Wise, Virginia.
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