HARTSVILLE, S.C. — The Coker Cobras rallied from behind in each game to complete a doubleheader sweep over visiting Tusculum Saturday afternoon in South Atlantic Conference action at Tom J. New Field.
In the first game, the Cobras overcame two, one-run deficits including once in extra innings as Gabriel Santiago only hit of the day was his walk-off single in the 12th inning in Coker’s 6-5 victory. In the second contest, the Cobras scored four times in the fourth frame to erase a 2-0 deficit and win 4-2 in the night-cap.
Coker (23-14, 14-7 SAC) completes the three-game sweep over the Pioneers (20-17, 14-10 SAC) as the Cobras moved into third place in the SAC standings. Tusculum, who entered the weekend second in the league, slips four spots into the sixth position.
Game 1: Coker 6, Tusculum 5 (12 innings)
Coker rallied from behind on twice and got a walk-off base hit from Santiago as the Cobras prevailed 6-5 in a 12-inning marathon.
The Cobras scored four runs in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead and carries a 4-2 advantage into the ninth inning.
Coker reliever Tyler Satterley retired the first two batters to start the ninth, but Ben Scartz drew a walk and Murphy Flood moved him to third base with his double. Pinch-hitter Jake Absher stepped up and belted a two-run single to tie the game at 4-4. The Pioneers loaded the bases when Will Samuelson singled and Jayden Singleton drew a walk. But pinch-runner Seth Sherman was picked off at third base to end the inning.
TU closer Seth Willis took over and worked around a one-out walk to send the game into extra innings.
Tusculum had two runners aboard with one out in the 10th inning, but a pair of infield pop-ups ended the threat. In the top of the 11th, Kayl Ratliff hit a double down the left field line and scored on Samuelson’s base hit to take a 5-4 lead.
In the bottom of the 11th after Willis opened with strikeout, Kody Hanna singled up the middle. He moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on Hunter Poole’s base hit to right field and tie the game at 5-5. A fielder’s choice moved Poole into scoring position with the game-winning run. Donovan Frayer stepped up and he would ground into an inning-ending double play as the base runner was forced out a second and Poole was gunned down at the plate for the final out of the frame.
Tusculum was in business again in the 12th, as Luis Reyes and Zane Keener reached on one-out singles. After a fly out, Scartz came to the plate and hit a line drive back to the mound which hit pitcher Landon Reeves in the head. The ball ricocheted back to catcher Jaylen Mack who threw to first base to complete the putout and end the TU rally.
In the bottom of the 12th, Jacob Yarberry was hit by a pitch to start the frame. He moved to second on a bunt and Mack drew a walk. The runners pulled off a double steal to put runners at second and third. Willis got an infield grounder for the second out as the base runners held. But Santiago singled to center field to drive in Yarberry with a game-winner.
Reeves (2-0) picked up the victory as he went 2 2/3 innings, allowed four hits and one run. Willis (3-2) suffered the loss as he pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowed three hits, three walks, two runs and recorded three strikeouts.
Tusculum out-hit the Cobras 14-13 as Samuelson went 4-for-5 with two RBI, while Flood and Reyes finished with three hits apiece. Cameron Ferrell led Coker at the plate with his four hits, while Hanna and Poole tallied two hits each.
Game 2: Coker 4, Tusculum 2
Coker erupted for four runs in the fourth sparked by Luke Alford’s two-run single as the Cobras edged Tusculum 4-2 in the series finale.
Coker starting pitcher Garrett Dunn (3-3) went the distance, allowing two runs, eight hits, two walks and three strikeouts in his 108-pitch performance. After giving up single runs in the first and third innings, Dunn blanked the Pioneers in the final four innings and retired five straight batters to end the game.
TU starter Brice Anders (5-3) also went the distance for a second time this season as he allowed four runs, three earned, seven hits, one walk and two strikeouts.
Tusculum got on the board in the first when Keener led off the game with a single, moved to third on Zach Wilson‘s base hit. After a walk to Scartz to load the bases with no outs. But a double play limited the threat as Keener scored.
In the third inning, Wilson led off with a base hit, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on Flood’s RBI single as the TU advantage grew to 2-0.
But in the bottom of the fourth, eight Coker players went to the plate as two singles and an error loaded the bases with no outs. Alford singled to center to tie the game at 2-2. After a bunt moved the runners into scoring position, Luke Peterson’s two-run single drove in the go-ahead runs as the Cobras led 4-2.
Tusculum would threaten again with two base runners in the fifth and one in the sixth. But Dunn thwarted each rally and retired the seventh in order to seal the victory.
Wilson led the Pioneers at the plate with his 3-for-4 outing, while Flood followed his three-hit performance in game one with his 2-for-3 effort in the night-cap.
Tusculum returns to action on Tuesday when they travel to 14th-ranked Lee University for a 6 p.m. contest in Cleveland, Tennessee. The Pioneers won last month’s meeting with the Flames, 6-4 in Greeneville. Since that loss, Lee has won six of its last seven games to improve to 28-10 on the year.
