WHITEWATER, Wisc. - The no. 21 Coe College softball team pulled off a championship series sweep on Saturday in an NCAA Regional title matchup with the University of Wisconsin Whitewater, defeating the Warhawks 13-4 in game one before earning a 3-2 decision in the winner-take-all championship matchup. Coe, which advances to the NCAA Super Regionals for the first time in school history, earns its first regional title since 2009 when the Kohawks made an appearance at the DIII Softball College World Series. The Kohawks exploded for their highest run total at the regional in the opening game, scoring 13 runs while hitting four homers to force the if-necessary game. Coe got homers from four different players in the opening win as
Ruby Kappeler, Marisa Vodicka, Skyler Stookey and
Bree Mangelsen delivered round-trippers in the emphatic victory.
Hannah Ausenhus was dominant in the game-two win to clinch the regional championship title, surrendering just four hits and one earned run while pitching a complete game. Her offense picked up RBI from three different sources with
Keera Ball, Heather Boeckenstedt and Stookey driving in one run each. The victory moves Coe to 35-9 overall while UW-Whitewater closes the year with a 28-13 record.
GAME ONE
no. 21 COE 13 - UW-WHITEWATER 4
Game Facts
- The Warhawks got a hot start in the opening game to put pressure on Coe, scoring one run on a two-out double after a pair of quick outs to begin the frame. The Kohawks responded moments later, striking for a five spot in the third inning thanks to five hits and four Warhawk errors. Kappeler singled with one out and moved to second on an error before Madi Parson tied the game with a single to right. Shaylee Dodd kept the line moving in the next plate appearance, singling to put runners on the corner. Stookey picked up her first two RBI of the game two batters later, driving home both runners with a two-out double to right center. Coe got two more runs before the end of the rally, scoring on a pair of UWW errors to extend the lead to 5-1.
- The hosts quickly got one back in the home half of the third inning, scoring with an RBI groundout to cut the deficit to three. Coe had another answer in the top of the fourth, beginning the frame with a leadoff homer from Kappeler who restored a four-run advantage. The Kohawks belted two more solo shots in the fourth as Vodicka and Stookey added homers to stretch the lead to six. Addie Menke gave the Kohawks a seven-run lead in the top of the sixth inning, driving home one run with a two-out single through the left side.
- Whitewater made it a game in the bottom of the sixth, capitalizing on a one-out walk with a two-run homer to pull within five with more than an inning to play. Mangelsen helped put the opening game away for the Kohawks in the top of the seventh inning, delivering Coe's final home run with a one-out grand slam to put an exclamation mark on the victory.
GAME TWO
no. 21 COE 3 - UW-WHITEWATER 2
Game Facts
- The championship matchup was a cagier affair with the teams combining for just five runs and 11 total hits. The Warhawks threatened immediately to start the game, putting runners on the corners in the first but Ausenhus buckled down and retired back-to-back hitters to keep it scoreless early.
- Coe got on the board in the second inning, striking for a pair of runs thanks to two hits and some well-executed offense. Stookey walked to lead the inning and was replaced by Rylee Newhard to run. Newhard immediately stole second to move into scoring position and was moved to third on a productive groundout from Mangelsen. Ball gave the Kohawks a 1-0 lead in the next at-bat, delivering a one-run single throughout the left side. Nicki Wood sacrificed herself in the next at-bat and moved Ball to second before Heather Boeckenstedt came up clutch with a two-out single to make it 2-0.
- The Kohawks added the all-important third run in the bottom of the third, getting two hits in the frame to extend the lead. Parson led off with a double to left and was later driven home by Stookey who also doubled to left. UWW immediately responded in the top of the fourth, getting a solo homer with two down to pull within two. The Warhawks pulled even closer later in the game, getting a run in the top of the sixth after their leadoff runner reached on an error. Ausenhus retired the next hitter but then surrendered a double as UWW pulled within one. Coe's hurler buckled down and escaped any further damage, stranding a runner on third with back-to-back ground outs. Ausnehus dominated the seventh despite a one-out walk, inducing a pair of weak ground outs to clinch the victory and send her team to the Super Regional round.
Up Next: Coe advances to the NCAA Super Regional round and will take on Hiram College out of the NCAC. More details regarding the Super Regional round will be provided as they are released from the NCAA.
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