TUCSON, Ariz. - The Coe College softball team wrapped up its Arizona spring break trip on Friday, picking up a pair of wins over UW-La Crosse and Dickinson. The Kohawks needed extra innings for both victories, taking down the Eagles 6-5 in eight innings and the Red Devils 4-3 in eight. Coe dominated UWL for the majority of the first game of the day, scoring two runs in the fourth inning while keeping the opponent scoreless until the bottom of the seventh. The Eagles tied the game with two in their final chance but Coe put four on the board in the top of the eighth and withstood another rally from UWL in the bottom to claim the win. Coe again jumped ahead in its second game of the day but Dickinson used two seventh-inning runs to put the pressure on the Kohawks. The team responded, tying the game in the bottom of the seventh before pushing two more across in the eighth to secure the win. Coe, which posted a record of 8-2 during its Arizona trip, improves to 13-3 overall with the wins.
COE 6 - UWL 5 - EIGHT INNINGS
Game Facts
- The Kohawks got a one-out double from Ruby Kappeler in the top of the first but two consecutive flyouts eliminated the scoring chance. Coe again threatened for the opening run in the top of the third, getting a two-out single from Heather Boeckenstedt but she was stranded on second on an inning-ending strikeout. The Kohawks finally cashed in during the fourth, getting back-to-back one-out hits including a two-run homer from Skyler Stookey who plated Madi Parson with the jack.
- Coe's starter Hannah Ausenhus ran into her first bit of trouble in the bottom of the fifth inning, allowing the first two batters to reach on a walk and an error. She worked her way out of the jam and kept the Eagles scoreless, getting some help from her defense as the Kohawk defense cut down one runner at the plate. Ausenhus allowed two more hits in the bottom of the sixth, surrendering a pair of singles but the innings ended on a runner's interference call.
- The Kohawks looked for insurance in the top of the seventh, getting a runner on second with one down but a double play line out gave UWL a chance down two with three outs left. The Eagles immediately were sentenced to their final out, striking out in their first two at-bats. The opponents strung together three-straight hits to stay alive, getting an RBI single and RBI double to tie the game at two.
- Coe quickly regained the lead in the top of the eighth inning, using a pair of hits and one Eagle error to score four runs. Mangelsen picked up the first RBI, reaching on a dropped fly ball which scored Nicki Wood. Parson drove home two more for Coe later in the inning, singling to left-center to plate Kappeler and Boeckenstedt. Shaylee Dodd picked up the eventual game-winning RBI, driving home Maggie Strupp with a sacrifice fly to center. UWL fought back in the bottom of the eighth, getting three runs on three hits to put the pressure back on Coe. The Eagles scored all three runs with zero outs in the inning but Ausenhus retired three-straight batters to strand the tying run at second.
COE 4 - DICKINSON 3 - EIGHT INNINGS
Game Facts
- Coe got on the board first, scoring one run in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI single from Keera Ball. Both of Coe's hits in the inning came with two outs as Marisa Vodicka doubled before Ball's run-scoring knock. Both teams went quiet on offense over the next few innings, combining to record four hits from the third through the sixth innings.
- Dickinson took its first lead in the top of the seventh, getting a pair of runs on a one-out single to go up 2-1. Ausenhus, who got the start in game two, limited the damage to just two, getting a pair of outs to end the threat and give her offense a chance. The Kohawk bats picked her up in the bottom of the seventh, getting back-to-back one-out hits to tie the game at two. Boeckenstedt started the rally with a single to left and was immediately brought home on a triple from Kappeler. Coe left the potential winning run on third, striking out and grounding out to miss out on the run.
- Ausenhus avoided any major damage in the top of the eighth, allowing just one run to score on a sacrifice fly to left. The Kohawks secured the win in the bottom of the frame, getting two runs on two hits to clinch the win. Dodd picked up the first RBI, delivering a one-out single to score Parson. Ball then earned her second RBI of the contest, driving home Dodd with two outs on a single to left as the senior recorded the walk-off hit.
Up next: Coe is back in action in a week from Saturday, hosting the College of Saint Benedict at Clark Field in Cedar Rapids in a non-conference doubleheader on March 25 at 1 PM.
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