The Belmont Abbey baseball team lost at Coker 4-3 in the series finale this afternoon in Hartsville as the Cobras avoided a three-game sweep.

In what started as a pitching duel between Tyler Witzel (3-1) and the Abbey's start Matt Parish (1-2), became a battle at the plate in the final innings.

The ball game was scoreless until Coker plated two runs in the fourth and another in the fifth taking a 3-0 lead. Another run in the eighth gave the Cobras a 4-0 advantage and they would need it as the Crusaders Roberto Sanchez belted a three-run home run just over the wall in left with two outs in the top of the ninth making it a one run game (4-3). Matt Long was able to come in and get the final out to secure the victory.

Witzel went 8.2 innings scattering eight hits and allowing just three runs with six strikeouts. Parish took the loss going seven innings allowing three runs, just one earned, on five hits with five punch outs.

Adam Hiatt led all Coker hitters with three hits including a double with an RBI and a run scored. Nick Fuoco also drove in and scored a run, while Fico Kondla and Zach Barnes each had an RBI.

Sanchez was the Crusaders leading hitter with three hits including a double and the homer, three RBIs and a run scored. Justin Vasquez was the only other Abbey player with multiple hits, he had two with a run scored.