WHITEWATER, Wisc. - The no. 21 Coe College softball team shook off a second-round 3-2 loss to regional host UW-Whitewater on Friday morning and bounced back for a crucial 6-4 victory over no. 17 Transylvania to advance to Saturday's regional championship series. Coe and Whitewater battled in the opening game, trading early runs in the opening innings but the Warhawks withstood some late rally attempts from the Kohawks and booked their ticket to Saturday's title series. The Kohawks were forced into a quick turnaround after the loss, having to face no. 17 Transylvania, the team they beat on a walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth one day prior. Coe took a lead in the elimination game in the top of the second, getting two runs before adding four more in the fifth.
Hannah Ausenhus, who made her first start at the NCAA tournament, saw out the remainder of the game in the circle, allowing some runs in the sixth and seventh before slamming the door on the Pioneers. With the win, Coe improves to 33-9 overall while Transylvania ends the year with a 34-11 record.
UW-WHITEWATER 3 - no. 21 COE 2
Game Facts
- The Warhawks had a good start in the opening inning, getting one hit and one run while taking advantage of a defensive miscue from Coe. The opening run scored on a sacrifice fly to centerfield as UWW cashed in on a throwing error earlier in the frame. The Kohawks answered immediately, getting two hits and one run in the home half of the inning to knot the game at one. Heather Boeckenstedt opened the inning with a single and moved to second when Skyler Stookey was hit by a pitch. Madi Parson brought Boeckenstedt home in the next at-bat, doubling to center field to tie the game at one.
- Whitewater kept the hot start going in the top of the second, retaking the lead with two runs on three hits and another Kohawk error. Ellie Thurow quickly got one out and then saw the net two hitters reach thanks to a single and an error. The Warhawks got another single one batter later and loaded the bases but Thurow got the second out with fly to right. UWW got both runs in the next at-bat, taking a 3-1 lead thanks to a two-run single to center.
- The Kohawks got one run back a few innings later, scoring one run on a pair of Whitewater errors in the fourth inning. Shaylee Dodd reached with one out on a misplayed bunt and scored one batter later as Bree Mangelsen also reached on a throwing error. Coe had chances to tie the game in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, putting a runner in scoring position in each frame but Whitewater escaped all three jams and held on for the victory.
no. 21 COE 6 - no. 17 TRANSYLVANIA 4
Game Facts
- Coe was the first team on the board in the all-important elimination contest, getting a pair of runs in the top of the second to jump ahead. The Kohawks opened the scoring with a leadoff homer from Shaylee Dodd before Skyler Stookey made it 2-0 with the second dinger of the frame. The Pioneers cut the lead in half midway through the game, scoring one run in the home half of the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly but Ausenhus stranded another runner in scoring position to keep the lead at one.
- Coe's offense picked up its pitcher in the top of the fifth, regaining a multi-run lead with four runs on four hits. Ruby Kappeler doubled with one out and was immediately driven in on Coe's fourth homer of the game as this time Madi Parson smoked a two-run shot down the left-field line. Marisa Vodicka kept the rally going in the next at-bat, singling before Stookey smashed her second homer of the day to give her team at 6-1 lead.
- Ausenhus gave one back to Transylvania in the bottom of the sixth, surrendering a leadoff solo homer to allow the Pioneers to claw within four. The opponents made things even more interesting in the final inning, getting a one-out two-run homer to pull within two. The Pioneers brought the tying run to the plate later in the inning with two outs but again Ausenhus worked around the trouble and sent Coe to the championship series.
Up Next: Coe advances to the championship series tomorrow, May 20 and will take on UW-Whitewater needing to beat the Warhawks twice to earn the Regional Championship title.
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