Nick Kolsin, Sports Reporter
The UNC Pembroke Braves baseball team defeated the Coker University Cobras in non-conference action Tuesday night. With the help of dominant pitching and defense to go along with a scoring surge the Braves took down the Cobras 4-1.
Will Harris pitched 8 1/3 innings, surrendering one run and 10 hits while striking out four batters and walking two in a stellar performance on the mound.
The Braves got on the board early in the bottom of the second after three straight singles were capped off with a Micheal Dolberry single to left to make it 1-0 early.
Both teams’ bats went silent for the next couple innings until the bottom of the 5th. Dolberry again came through for the Braves with a deep home run to right center field to make it 2-0 Braves.
Will Hood singled to start the bottom of the 6th inning. Next batter Kody O’Connor smashed the baseball over the right field fence to give the Braves a 4-0 lead.
The Cobras were finally able to crack Harris in the top of the 9th inning with a homer to center from Luke Alford. After giving up a walk and a single, Harris was replaced by Chase Jernigan with a chance for a two-out save. After walking the first batter to load the bases, Jernigan was able to strike out the next two batters earning the save and securing the win for the Braves.
The Braves will be back home at Sammy Cox Field this weekend for Alumni Weekend and a 3-game series against Barton College starting Friday at 6 p.m.