Two Run Ninth Inning Gets the Best of Coker

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
3/12/2009

Hartsville, S.C. - Alderson-Broaddus scored a pair of runs in the top of the ninth to break a 4-4 tie, and take home the eventual 6-4 win for the Battlers over the Cobras in collegiate baseball on Thursday afternoon. The win improves A-B to 10-3 on the year, while the loss, drops Coker to 14-10.

The Battlers struck first with a runs in the third, sixth and a pair of runs in the top of the seventh, but just when it looked as if Coker was going to be shutout, the Cobras plated three runs in the bottom of the seventh to bring the game within one. A Coker run in the eighth made it 4-4, but the Cobras were unable to hold the tie for long as Alderson-Broaddus scored two in the top of the ninth for the win.

Jonathan Gainey (Hartsville, SC) took the unfortunate loss, allowing two runs in two innings of relief work for Coker, while Pedro Castellanos earned the win, allowing just one run on one hit in two innings of work.

Kevin Schlange (Carson City, NV) was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored to lead the Cobras, while Brian Luchsinger (Farmingville, NY) also had two hits with a run scored and Matthew Kearnes (Bay Shore, NY) and Trevin Taber (Chesnee, SC) each had a hit with an RBI.

For Alderson-Broaddus, Eric Texeira was 3-for-5 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored, while Mark Ruiz was 2-for-3 with a triple, an RBI and three runs scored.

Coker returns to the diamond this weekend when they take on Belmont Abbey College in a Conference Carolinas three game series starting with a double-header on Saturday starting at noon, followed by a single game on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.