The Belmont Abbey softball team dropped both games of its Conference Carolinas opening doubleheader to the visiting Coker Cobras this afternoon, falling 4-2 in the opener and 2-0 in the second game. The Abbey is now 2-10 overall and 0-2 in Conference Carolinas, while the Cobras improve to 5-5 overall and 2-0 in Conference Carolinas.

In the opener, Coker starting pitcher Shelly Catlett earned the win after striking out 13 batters and walking none in a complete game, two hit effort. Offensively, she recorded a pair of hits in two at bats and scored twice. Kayla Short took the loss after allowing four runs on seven hits, striking out six, in seven innings of work.

Coker opened the scoring in the third as Catlett led off with a single to left center, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a single by Haleigh Rogers.

That was all of the scoring until the top of the seventh when the Cobras pushed three across to extend their lead to 4-0. The Abbey would mount a rally in the bottom half, bringing the tying run to the plate before the game ended. Katie Hobbs ripped a one out single, moved to third on a single by Dani Beres, and both runners scored on a single by Alysia Stewart to cut the Cobra lead in half at 4-2, but Short would line out to end the game.

In game two, Coker scored first in the top of the first as Rogers led off with a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, to third on a passed ball and would later score on a wild pitch for a 1-0 Coker lead.

Coker scored the game's final run in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly by Becky Dillon that scored Miranda Klees, who led off the inning with a single.

Catlett earned the win after tossing a complete game, three hit shutout, striking out ten and walking two. Danielle Puckett was charged with the loss after allowing both runs to score on three hits in three innings. She fanned four.