Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
by Kevin Buczek
HARTSVILLE, S.C.-Barton College held a five-run lead in the first game and a two-run advantage in the second game but host Coker College rallied both times to sweep a Conference Carolinas baseball doubleheader to start league play for both programs on Sunday afternoon at Tom J. New Field.
The Cobras – currently ranked No. 10 in the Southeast Region by d2baseballnews.com – improved to 9-3 overall. The Bulldogs slipped to 4-6 on the season. The two teams will complete the season series on Monday at 1 p.m.
Junior Zach Loraine preserved both one-run wins for senior reliever Tyler Witzel with his first two saves of the season as Coker began conference play at 2-0. Barton started with a 0-2 league ledger.
Junior first baseman Collins Cuthrell led the Bulldogs going 4-for-6 with four extra base hits and two walks. Cuthrell drove in two runs and scored twice while ripping two doubles, one triple and one home run.
GAME ONE: Coker 7, Barton 6
The Cobras slithered past the Bulldogs by scoring runs in each of their four last innings after Barton jumped out to the early 5-0 advantage. Coker's rally was aided by three Barton errors that resulted in three unearned runs included the go-ahead score in the bottom of the eighth.
The Bulldogs raced to the big lead with two runs in both the second and third innings and one last run in the fourth. Junior center fielder Phillip Cotten highlighted the Bulldogs early onslaught with an RBI-double in the second and a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Cuthrell chipped in a run-producing triple to the left field gap in the third.
Barton senior starter Phillip Williams tossed five shutout innings to begin the game but Coker started its rally with three runs in the fifth that was abetted by two errors and a passed ball. A couple doubles and a single in the sixth leveled the score at 5-5.
Cotton scored in the top of the seventh to put Barton ahead one more time at 6-5 but an RBI-single by senior Brinley Griffin knotted the scoreboard for a second time. Coker went in front in the eighth after junior Fico Kondla reached first on a throwing error after a dropped third strike and eventually scoring on a single by classmate Shea Bell.
Barton put the game-tying and go-ahead runners on base in the top of the ninth but Loraine closed the door on the comeback attempt with a strikeout and a popup. Witzel was credited with the win after 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief when Coker took its lead.
Barton senior Christian Oliver (1-2) was tagged with the loss after allowing two runs (one earned) over the final 2 2/3 innings. Oliver did have four strikeouts in relief of Williams.
The Cobras had twice as many hits as Barton, 10-5. Sophomore left fielder JT Bunce accounted for two of the Bulldogs hits with a single and a double to extend his hitting streak to four games.
GAME TWO: Coker 3, Barton 2
Barton took a 2-0 lead on consecutive solo home runs by Williams and Cuthrell in the third inning but Coker fought back again to take the nightcap. Senior Keith Wolf provided the crushing two-run single in the sixth before Loraine sealed the sweep with his second save.
Loraine's sacrifice fly in the fourth cut the Cobras deficit in half with an unearned run. Bell started the sixth with a single and senior Chad Nader drew a walk. The duo pulled off a double steal before scoring on Wolf's single up the middle of the infield.
Doubles by Cuthrell in the first and sixth put Bulldog runners in scoring position in both innings but Barton was unable to score either time. Barton loaded the bases in the first without scoring.
The back-to-back jacks by Williams and Cuthrell were the second home run of the season for both players.
Witzel (3-0) earned his second victory of the day with just 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. Loraine recorded three consecutive strikeouts in a 1-2-3 seventh for his second save.
Barton senior Kyle Norville (1-3) was tagged with the loss allowing three runs (two earned) on just three hits and one walk.
Cuthrell (3-for-3) and Williams accounted for all five of the Bulldogs base knocks.
