WILSON, N.C. – The Barton baseball team (21-15) fell to Coker (16-29) by a 13-7 score on Wednesday afternoon at Nixon Field.
The Cobras' Kody Hanna (Hemingway, S.C.) finished with three hits and four runs batted in as the visitors jumped out to a 9-1 advantage and held off a late Bulldogs' rally to take the win.
Barton cut the margin to 9-7 in the bottom of the eighth inning with a four-run frame highlighted by a two-run home run from junior designated hitter
Tanner Halvorson (Eau Claire, Wisc.). However, the Cobras responded with a four-run ninth inning spearheaded by a bases-clearing triple from Hanna.
Coker's Cooper Thomas (Piedmont, S.C.) (4-4) was tagged with the victory after pitching two scoreless innings to start the contest while Barton sophomore
Jacob Shapley (Sewell, N.J.) (3-3) suffered the loss. Barton sophomore third baseman
Jared Beebe (Atco, N.J.) added two hits and two RBI and the Bulldogs pulled a triple play despite the loss.
Barton returns to Conference Carolinas play on Saturday when the Bulldogs travel to Florence, S.C., to face Francis Marion beginning at 3:00 p.m., while Coker hosts Augusta next Wednesday, April 19, at 6:00 p.m.
