Coker Picks Up Two Against Clarion

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
3/6/2009

Hartsville, S.C. - Coker took home a pair of wins on Friday, as they swept their non-conference double-header with Clarion University winning game one 10-4, followed by a 10-7 win in game two. The wins improve Coker to 12-9 on the year, while Clarion falls to 1-7 overall.

Game One
In the first game Clarion jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, but that would be all the lead Coker would allow, as the Cobras scored two runs in the bottom of the first, along with three runs in the fourth, two in the fifth and another three in the sixth. The Golden Eagles scored a run in the sixth and two in the seventh, for the 10-4 final.

Chris Thomas (Bluffton, SC) (3-1) earned the win, allowing just one run on six hits with four strikeouts in four innings of work, while Clarion's Erik Kempton took the loss, going 3.2 innings, allowing four runs on six hits, with a pair of Ks.

Ricky Deleandro (Mentor, OH) and Taylor Evans (Arvada, CO) each had three hits with an RBI for the Cobras, with Deleandro hitting a triple and scoring three runs and Evans hitting a double and scoring one run. Kyle Walker (Centralia, IL) also had multiple hits for Coker, while driving in and scoring a run and Jessie Crockett (North East, MD) was 1-for-4 with a solo homer.

For the Golden Eagles, Matt Rossi was 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, three RBIs and a run scored, while Andrew Petruska and Jeremy Womer each had two hits, including a double for each hitter. Matt White was 1-for-3 with a solo home run for Clarion.

Game Two
It was a back and forth game through the first four innings, as neither team would concede to the other. Coker was first to get on the board with two runs in the second inning, but Clarion answered with two runs of their own in the top half of the third. Both teams exchanged three run innings in the fourth, but Coker finally got ahead with a run in the fifth and then a four run sixth gave the Cobras the lead for good. Clarion again looked to be battling back in the seventh, scoring a pair of runs, but that would be all the Coker defense would allow, as they held on for the 10-7 win.

Josh Daniels (Troy, IL) (1-3) earned his first win on the mound for the Cobras, going five strong innings, allowing five runs on eight hits with a pair of strikeouts, while Matt White took the loss for Clarion, allowing five runs on four hits in two innings of relief work.

Kevin Schlange (Carson City, NV) and Matt Ammons (Chester, SC) each had two hits and two RBIs for the Cobras, while Brian Luchsinger (Farmingville, NY) had three hits, including a double with an RBI. Ellis Logeman (Suwanee, GA) had a double and an RBI, with Brinley Griffin (Port St. John, FL) and Walker each picking up a hit and an RBI.

For Clarion, Adam Foltz was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored, while Matt White was 2-for-4 with a double and Sean Zimmerman and Chad White each had two hits for the Golden Eagles.

Coker and Clarion will complete a four game series on Saturday, with a double-header starting at 11:00 a.m. at Tom J. New Field.