HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker University Baseball Team (11-4, 2-0 SAC) took both ends of a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader from Emory & Henry University (1-11, 0-5 SAC) Sunday afternoon. The Cobras edged the Wasps 11-8 in game one, before shutting out the visitors from Emory 10-0 in the seven-inning nightcap. The series is being played in South Carolina after being moved from Emory due to inclement weather in Southwest Virginia. 

The Basics
GAME ONE – Coker 11, Emory & Henry 8
GAME TWO – Coker 10, Emory & Henry 0 (Seven Innings)
LOCATION – Hartsville, South Carolina
VENUE – Tom J. New Field at Dave Schmotzer Stadium
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (1-11, 0-5 SAC); Coker (11-4, 2-0 SAC)

Game One - Coker 11, Emory & Henry 8
After a scoreless first inning, the Cobras were first on the board in the top of the second. Coker utilized four base hits and an E&H error to put up four runs and take the early 4-0 lead. The Wasps struggled to generate anything offensively as they had just two baserunners in the opening four innings of play. Fifth-year designated hitter Caeden Howell (Roaring River, N.C.) changed that in the bottom of the fifth inning when he launched a solo shot over the wall in left to get the Wasps in the score column and decrease the deficit to 4-1. 

Coker would add a run in the top of the sixth on a base hit and another E&H error, but the Wasps had an immediate response in the bottom of the inning. Fifth-year outfielder Jared Foley (Sparta, N.C.) drilled a one-out single and moved up to second base on a balk. Freshman shortstop Jaret Hoppes (Taylorsville, N.C.) delivered an RBI base knock to plate Foley, then one batter later swiped second base. Senior first baseman Jacob Bebber (Taylorsville, N.C.) continued his hot hitting to begin the season and laced an RBI triple down the line in right to score Hoppes and Howell followed suit with an RBI single to advance Bebber and the score sat at 5-4 in favor of the Cobras. 

CU answered back in the top of the seventh as they posted three more runs on a pair of hits and an Emory & Henry error to push their advantage back out to 8-4. E&H posted two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Senior outfielder Khadeem Lewis (Chesterfield, Va.) and Hoppes each singled to put a runner in scoring position. Senior second baseman Steven Smith (Salisbury, N.C.) drove in a run when he reached on an error and Bebber drove in another with an RBI single to bring the Wasps back within a pair at 8-6.

After Coker added a run in the top of the eighth inning, E&H tacked on two more in the bottom half. Howell singled and fifth-year catcher Camden Bailey (Sterling, Ill.) reached on a walk with one out. Fifth-year outfielder Matt Hill (Pineville, N.C.) plated Howell when he reached on an error and Lewis followed up with an RBI double down the line in left to make it 9-8. Coker would go on to add two insurance runs in the top of the ninth to earn the 11-8 win.

Casey Cleghorn picked up the win for CU as he scattered four runs on seven hits while striking out four batters over 5.2 innings of work. Junior pitcher Jacob Nester (Hillsville, Va.) took the loss for E&H, allowing five runs and seven hits in six innings while fanning three Coker batters. Howell paced the Wasps with three hits and a pair of RBIs. Hoppes, Lewis, Bebber and Smith all recorded a pair of hits for E&H in the loss. 

Game Two - Coker 10, Emory & Henry 0 (Seven Innings)
Game two of the doubleheader was all Cobras as Coker tallied one run in the second, four in the third, four more in the fifth and one final run in the sixth on their way to a shutout 10-0 victory. Smith and Bebber recorded the lone hits for Emory & Henry in the nightcap. 

Cody Chapman earned the win on the hill for the Cobras in game two as he threw all seven innings, giving up just the two hits while striking out 10 Wasps batters. Sophomore pitcher Jacob Iverson (Fort Mill, S.C.) was saddled with the loss for E&H, surrendering five runs and three hits with three strikeouts in 2.1 innings. Freshman pitcher Hunter Word (Kenbridge, Va.) and junior reliever Garrett Williams (Charlottesville, Va.) combined for three solid innings of relief out of the bullpen, allowing just one run on four hits with a strikeout. 

Up Next
Emory & Henry will complete the three-game series against Coker on Monday with a single nine-inning contest. First pitch is scheduled for noon from Hartsville. 

--E&H--