HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Newberry softball picked up a sweep over the Coker Cobras on Wednesday afternoon in Hartsville.
With the sweep, Newberry moves to 24-12 overall and 6-6 in the SAC while Coker falls to 25-11 and 4-5 in conference play.
Game One (Newberry wins 4-1 vs. Coker)
Alyssa Ball picked up her 10th win of the season as the starting pitcher relinquished only one run on three hits in five innings of work.
On the other hand, Newberry faced the South Atlantic Conference's ERA-leader in Coker's Isabelle Mullen.
Paige Meyer drew a walk to leadoff the game where she advanced to second on a passed ball and then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by
McKenzie Barneycastle.
Natalie Willis would score Meyer from third as she grounded out, giving Newberry the early 1-0 advantage.
Coker would put two runners on with one out in the bottom half of the first inning until a 5-3 double play by
Hannah Davis and
Haley Simonds ended the inning.
Reagan Glanz would provide another great defensive play in the next inning as she threw out a Cobras player attempting to steal second base.
The Wolves would add two more runs in the fifth inning, starting with
Ashley Willis' single to left field to start the inning. Glanz would move A. Willis to second on a sacrifice bunt.
Barneycastle would easily score a run as she tripled to right field. Willis would follow it up as she singled up the middle of the field to score another run, effectively ending Mullen's day in the circle for Coker.
Simonds provided the final run for the Wolves in the seventh inning with an RBI-single, putting Newberry up 4-1 as the Cobras prepared to rally in the final inning.
Coker would have a runner in scoring position and one out in the seventh inning until Davis and Simonds would combine for their second double play of the day to end the inning.
Game Two (Newberry wins 5-3 vs. Coker)
Newberry would use rally twice in the sixth and seventh innings for a 5-3 win in game two.
Coker took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, holding onto until the sixth inning where the Wolves responded.
Morgan Wagaman would start the inning off by reaching first on a well-executed bunt. From there, a double down the left field line by Meyer would score Wagaman from first.
Meyer would advance to third on a passed ball as Barneycastle took a four-pitch walk and promptly stole second base, giving the Wolves two runners in scoring position.
Willis would then reach safely on a fielder's choice to the shortstop as Meyer ended up getting thrown out at the plate. Barneycastle advanced to third on the play eventually scoring on Simonds' sacrifice fly to right field to give the Wolves a 2-1 lead.
Coker would answer in the bottom half of the inning, reclaiming their lead with two runs on two hits. Newberry's offense stayed hot, however, as the Wolves rallied to retake the lead in the seventh.
Glanz would lead off the inning with a chopper up the middle of the field, beating out a throw by the shortstop for a hit. A second hit, this time from
Chelsey Cunningham, put runners at first and second. A sacrifice bunt by A. Willis would then advance both runners into scoring position at second and third.
Rachel Marion would score the tying run on a fielder's choice as pinch runner
Julia Bomhardt scored from third on the play.
Meyer would add another run with a hit up the middle of the field. The Wolves would then push their lead to 5-3 on a wild pitch as Wagaman scored from third on the play, capping off an impressive comeback for the Wolves.
Ivy Hayes would pick up the save as she pitched the final inning for the Wolves, holding off the Cobras under a bases-loaded situation for the doubleheader sweep.
Cunningham earned her second win of the season pitching one inning in relief with two strikeouts. Starting pitcher
Selice Daley would provide five innings of work where she struck out five batters.
UP NEXT:
Newberry returns home to the Smith Road Complex for a doubleheader against Mars Hill this Saturday, April 6th at 1 PM / 3 PM.
