WHITEWATER, Wisc. - Freshman Coe College softball player
Marisa Vodicka delivered a game-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth inning in the Kohawks' opening matchup of the NCAA DIII Regional Championships on Thursday afternoon, completing a 6-5 comeback victory for the no. 21 Kohawks who erased an early four-run deficit to no. 17 Transylvania. Coe quickly fell behind in the first game of the double-elimination regional tournament, spotting the Pioneers four spot in the second inning. The Kohawks got one back in the fourth but saw the opponent restore a four-run advantage with an RBI double in the fifth. Coe finally came to life in the sixth inning, getting four runs on five hits and one Pioneer error to tie the game at five. Both teams went quiet over the next few innings until the bottom of the ninth when Vodicka hit a towering shot over the left-center wall to finish the comeback in walk-off fashion. With the win, Coe improves to 32-8 overall and advances into the winner's bracket of the Whitewater Regional.
no. 21 COE 6 - no. 17 TRANSYLVANIA 5 - 9 INNINGS
Game Facts
- The Pioneer threatened in the opening inning, getting two hits to put two on with two outs but Coe's starter Ellie Thurow forced an inning-ending pop-out to retire the side. Transylvania cashed in during its next plate appearances, scoring four unearned runs on four hits and a Coe error. Thurow allowed a leadoff single but quickly got two outs with a flyout and strikeout to put pressure back on the Pioneers. Transylvania scored the opening run of the game in the next at-bat, taking advantage of a Coe error to go up 1-0. The opponents added three more runs before the end of the inning, getting a bases-loaded double to extend the advantage to 4-0 midway through the second.
- The Kohawks had their first scoring chance of the game in the bottom of the third, getting a pair of two-out base runners as Heather Boeckenstedt singled before Ruby Kappeler reached on an error. The threat was ended in the next at-bat as the Pioneers stranded both runners with a groundout to third. Coe managed to claw one back in the fourth, getting a sacrifice fly from Bree Mangelsen as she drove home Madi Parson to make it 4-1.
- Transylvania quickly regained a four-run advantage in the top of the fifth, scoring on a two-RBI double after another Coe defensive miscue. The Pioneers threatened to add more to their lead in the top of the sixth with two hits but Thurow avoided any damage, inducing an inning-ending flyout to right.
- The Kohawks came to life in the home half of the sixth, getting five hits and four runs to tie the game at five. Kappeler and Skyler Stookey led off with back-to-back singles to set the table. Shaylee Dodd delivered the first run of the inning two batters later, driving home Kappeler with a single while pushing pinch runner Rylee Newhard to third. Coe took advantage of a Pioneer miscue in the following at-bat, getting two runs on a misplayed grounder as Mangelsen picked up one RBI as she helped cut the deficit to one. Vodicka tied the game later in the inning as Coe continued to rally, singling to right center to score Maggie Strupp who ran for Mangelsen earlier in the frame.
- Coe and Transylvania both went quietly in the opening few innings of extras, recording a hit in each inning while leaving the runners on. Vodicka delivered once again for Coe to lead off the bottom of the ninth, driving a high fly ball just over the left-center fence. Vodicka's blast just left the yard and was nearly robbed at the wall by the Pioneer center fielder but she was unable to hold on as Coe completed the comeback win.
Up Next: Coe advances into the winner's bracket of the UW-Whitewater Regional and will return to action tomorrow, May 19 at 11 AM for its second game against the host school UW-Whitewater.
#KohawkNation
Visit https://kohawkathletics.com/ for complete coverage of Coe College Athletics
Like Coe College Athletics on Facebook
Follow @CoeAthletics on Twitter
Follow @CoeAthletics on Instagram
Coe Athletics Mobile App - Android | iPhone
