HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Carson-Newman Eagles (12-13, 7-9 South Atlantic Conference) were limited to just four hits in a 9-3 loss to the Coker Cobras (13-8, 6-6 SAC) Friday afternoon at Tom J. New Field.

"We need to score more than three runs on a day like today," head coach Tom Griffin said after the contest. "When opposing pitchers walk nine and you leave 12 men on base, you have to do a better job getting them in."

Carson-Newman managed just one hit in 17 at-bats with a runner on base including 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Carson-Newman fell below the .500 mark for the first time this season after beginning the year 7-1.

The Eagles struck first in their first at-bat. Sophomore designated hitter Joe Tipton (Dandridge, Tenn.) walked on five pitches to start the game. Two batters later, junior left fielder Bo Ausmus (Jefferson City, Tenn.) rolled a single through the left side of the infield. A passed ball and a wild pitch scored Tipton and put Ausmus at third base. Junior first basemen Evan Jurjevic (New Carlisle, Ind.) reached on a fielder's choice that scored Ausmus to make it 2-0 Carson-Newman.

Coker wasted no time taking the lead in their initial go-around against Eagle starting pitcher Quinton Yocom (Cable, Ohio). The junior right-hander walked the first two batters of the game and an error gave the Cobras their first run of the contest. An RBI double by Ernie Kirkwood and an RBI single by Tyler Bires put Coker on top 3-2 after an inning.

Carson-Newman tied the score in the top of the third inning. Junior right fielder Cody Fox (Seymour, Tenn.) doubled with one out in the frame. With two outs, junior center fielder Evan Kirkpatrick (Jefferson City, Tenn.) bounced a ball to first base that was not able to be handled. The error brought home Fox to tie the score at three.

The two sides stayed deadlocked until the bottom of the sixth inning. With runners at first and second base and two outs, Griffin went to the bullpen to bring on junior right-hander Michael Cogliano (Medford, N.J.). Kirkwood lined a double off the wall in centerfield to plate two runs and put Coker on top 5-3.

In the seventh stanza, Coker put the game out of reach for the Eagles by plating four runs. After two singles began the frame, senior right-hander Daniel Sharp (Johnson City, Tenn.) was summoned from the bullpen. Sharp walked back-to-back batters that saw a run cross the plate. Fico Kondla lined a 0-1 fastball back through the middle that brought home two more runs. Another bases loaded walked capped the inning and gave the Cobras a 9-3 advantage.

The Eagles tied a season-high with 12 runners left on base due in part to nine walks and one hit batter by the Coker pitching staff. Fox collected his sixth multi-hit game of the season going 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Yocom fell to 2-3 on the season allowing five runs, four earned runs on eight hits and five walks to go along with five strikeouts. Carson-Newman pitching set a new season-high with nine bases on balls issued in the loss.

Coker and Carson-Newman conclude the three-game series with a doubleheader Saturday afternoon with first pitch in game one slated for noon.

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