HARTSVILLE, S.C. - Double plays and solid pitching helped the Cobras defeat the Trojans in game one of the South Atlantic Conference opener for both Anderson and Coker with the Black and Gold bouncing back to win the nightcap, Sunday afternoon at the Saleeby-Stokes Softball Field.

With the split, the Trojans move to 21-7 on the year and 1-1 in SAC play. The Cobras post a 10-15-1 overall record and 1-1 record in the conference.

Game #1
Coker 2, Anderson 0
Coker used four of its six hits in the fourth and sixth innings to push across one run in each frame to defeat Anderson, 2-0 in the 2016 conference opener for both programs.

The Trojans had big innings brewing in the second, third and fifth but stellar defensive play by the Cobras shut down any run opportunities. Coker turned a double play in each of those frames, stranding a total of five Black and Gold runners in those innings.

Freshmen Madison Bivins and Michaela Smith both collected two hits apiece in their SAC career debut.

Junior Lauren Rudesheim (10-4) took the loss for the Trojans while pitching six innings, allowing six hits while striking out four.

Coker's Augusta Jackson (4-1) earned her fourth win of the year giving up five hits, four walks and taking full advantage of the defensive effort behind her by the Cobras'.

Game #2
Anderson 4, Coker 2
Solid pitching and timely hitting helped the Trojans avenge the game one setback by dropping the Cobras, 4-2, in the nightcap.

Junior Augie Pena pitched a complete game victory scattering eight hits while striking out eight Cobras. The win improved Pena to 7-2 overall and 1-0 in SAC play.

The game remained scoreless through five innings with the Trojans placing the first two runs on the scoreboard, in the top half of the sixth inning. Sophomore Cailah Niles led off with a single to left field followed by a walk issued to junior Courtney Czentnar. Bivins ripped her third hit of the day to load the bases for freshman Kasey Grant. Grant earned a base on balls RBI to push across the first run of game two. Pena followed with an RBI single helping her own cause to give the Black and Gold a 2-0 lead.

After giving up a leadoff hit in the bottom of the sixth, Pena mesmerized the Cobras striking out the next two batters she faced, while forcing the fourth batter of the inning to pop up to first baseman Rachael Barefield to end the threat.

Anderson added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh which proved to be needed as Coker added two runs of its own in the bottom half of the seventh. Sophomore Carli Hurtado led the inning off with a walk, followed by a two run blast by Niles to add to the Trojans lead. The Cobras threatened again in the bottom of the seventh when left fielder Riley Morris hit a one out two-run shot to cut into Anderson's lead. Pena was able to record two fly outs to end the game, 4-2, giving the Black and Gold their first conference win of the season.

Niles led the Trojans at the plate in game two going 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Trojans' right fielder Czentnar went 2-for-3 drawing a walk while scoring a run. Bivins added two more hits to her total on the day (2-for-4) hitting an impressive 4-for-7 on the afternoon.

Anderson returns to action for a four-game homestand when it welcomes SAC foe Lincoln Memorial on Wednesday. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. at the AU Softball Complex.