CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The no. 21 Coe College softball team took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three NCAA DIII Softball Championship Super Regional series against Hiram College on Friday afternoon, defeating the Terriers 5-0 at Clark Field. Kohawk starting pitcher
Ellie Thurow tossed a complete-game one-hitter, earning her 14th win of the year in dominant fashion as the Woodstock, Illinois native struck out four hitters while working around three free passes. Thurow's offense started slowly, going hitless in the opening four frames with just a pair of early baserunners. The Kohawk bats came to life in the bottom of the fifth inning, getting four runs on three hits with three different players driving in runs.
Addie Menke, Heather Boeckenstedt and
Skyler Stookey all earned RBI in the inning with Stookey driving home two runs with two outs to double the advantage. Thurow returned to the circle with the lead in the sixth and seventh and made no mistakes, retiring the side in both innings to lock down the opening win for Coe. With the victory, the Kohawks improve to 36-9 overall while Hiram drops to 27-15.
no. 21 COE 5 - HIRAM 0
Game Facts
- Hiram went quietly in the opening inning, getting set down in order by Thurow. Coe put early pressure on the Terriers, getting a one-out base runner after an error which allowed Ruby Kappeler to advance to second. Hiram eliminated the threat in the following at-bat getting a fly out to third base to keep the game scoreless.
- The visiting Terriers got their first base runner in the second, reaching on a one-out error but Thurow set down the final two hitters with a fly out and line out. Hiram's first real scoring chance came in the top of the third, getting three-straight base runners with two outs to load the bases for their cleanup hitter. Coe's hurler hung tough despite a walk and hit batter, getting a foul out to first base to end the chance.
- Hiram manufactured another scoring opportunity in the top of the fourth, getting a leadoff single before moving the runner to second with a sacrifice bunt. Thurow issued another free pass to put runners on first and second in the next at-bat but quickly worked out of the jam with back-to-back putouts.
- The Kohawks eventually came to life on offense in the home half of the fifth, using three hits and one Terrier error to put four runs on the board. Marisa Vodicka and Bree Mangelsen posted back-to-back singles to begin the inning and in turn forced a pitching chance from Hiram. Keera Ball was hit by a pitch in the first at-bat following the change, setting up bases loaded for her team. Menke picked up the initial RBI with a sharply hit ball toward the first and second base hole, reaching on an error while pushing home Vodicka. Boeckenstedt kept the line moving and made it 2-0 one batter later, drawing a crucial walk on a full count after a pitch clock violation from Hiram. Stookey delivered her clutch two-run single later in the inning, doubling Coe's lead with a two-out hit to left.
- Hiram looked to answer immediately to start the top of the sixth, getting a long fly ball to center field from Darian Kanno but an incredible home run-robbing catch from Kappeler kept Thurow's shutout and the Kohawk lead intact. Coe rode the momentum from the big inning and outstanding defensive play for the final two frames of the game, adding one run in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly from Gabrielle Buckridge. Thurow made quick work of the Terriers in the top of the seventh to secure the win, striking out the first and last hitters of the final inning.
Up Next: Coe is back in action tomorrow for the second day of the Super Regional round, hosting Hiram for the final games of the best of three series at Clark Field. Game two is scheduled for a 1 PM start with the if-necessary game scheduled for approximately 3:30 PM.
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