CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The no. 21 Coe College softball team booked its place in next week's NCAA DIII Softball Championships on Saturday afternoon, defeating Hiram College 2-1 in game two of the Super Regional series to claim a 2-0 series victory and the Super Regional Title. The Kohawks benefited from another stellar pitching performance for the second day running as senior
Hannah Ausenhus surrendered just four hits and one unearned run in a complete-game effort. The Hanlontown native was named the Pitcher of the Tournament and secured her 14th win of the year to clinch Coe's spot at the National Tournament, striking out six hitters while issuing just one free pass. Coe's offense tallied seven hits in the game and was led by
Madi Parson who drove in both runs with a third-inning single and a fifth-inning walk.
Ruby Kappeler, who was selected as the tournament's Most Valuable Player, scored one run for Coe and added one hit and two stolen bases.
Heather Boeckenstedt also registered a multi-hit game for the Kohawks, reaching on a pair of bunt singles while adding a walk and stolen base. The win moves Coe to 37-9 overall while Hiram ends the year with a mark of 27-16.
no. 21 COE 2 - HIRAM 1
Game Facts
- Boeckenstedt began the game for Coe with a leadoff walk and quickly stole second to put early pressure on Hiram who was the home team in game two. The Terriers settled in, recording back-to-back outs before a walk to Skyler Stookey however a fly out to short ended the rally. Coe got another base runner in the second with a one-out single from Bree Mangelsen but again Hiram hung tough and ended the chance with two-straight outs.
- Coe finally cashed in for the opening run in the top of the third inning. Kappeler singled through the left side with one down and immediately moved into scoring position with a swipe of second base. Parson drove home the initial run with a single in the same at-bat, driving home Kappeler before being thrown out at second trying to advance. Hiram got its first hit of the game in the fourth inning, leading off with a single but Ausenhus retired three batters in a row to keep the lead intact.
- The Kohawks scored the eventual game-winning run in the fifth, getting three hits and another RBI from Parson to double the advantage. Gabrielle Buckridge led the rally off with a single and was quickly joined on base by Boeckenstedt who bunted her way on. Kappeler followed suit and posted a bunt single to load the bases for Parson who drew a walk to make it 2-0.
- Ausenhus remained dominant in the fifth and sixth innings, retiring six-straight hitters to set the stage for the bottom of the seventh. The senior ran into trouble in the final inning, surrendering three hits and one run while working around one error. She recorded the final out of the game with the bases loaded, inducing a grounder to third which Shaylee Dodd handled for the clinching out.
Up Next: Coe, which advances to the NCAA DIII Championships for the first time since 2009, is matched up with #2 Linfield for its opening game, taking on the Wildcats on June 1 at 4 PM.
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