MANKATO, Minn. - The #4 Coe College softball team picked up a pair of narrow victories on Saturday to open its 2024 season, defeating Bethany Lutheran 2-1 before an eight-inning 5-4 win over Saint Mary's University. Coe got a pitching gem from
Ellie Thurow in the opener, paired with a solo homer from
Skyler Stookey and the eventual game-winning RBI from
Marisa Vodicka. Coe fell behind in the second game of the day, spotting Saint Mary's a two-run lead midway through the fourth. Coe responded with three in the bottom half of the inning, regaining the lead until the seventh. The Cardinals tied the score in their final plate appearance and forced extras where they'd score the opening run in the top of the eighth.
Madi Parson then delivered a game-winning two-run single in the bottom of the eighth, plating
Ruby Kappeler and
Heather Boeckenstedt to claim the walk-off victory.
#4 COE 2 - BLC 1
Game Facts
- Coe put a pair of runners on in its first inning of the year, getting singles from Boeckenstedt and Dodd but a strikeout ended the scoring chances. Thurow allowed a one-out triple in the following inning but quickly worked out of trouble with back-to-back fly outs. Coe struck for both of its runs in the fourth inning, stringing together four hits while leaving one runner on. Stookey opened the frame with her first dinger of the year, tying Shalyn Swartout for fourth all-time on Coe's career list with the 27th homer of her career. Shaylee Dodd singled and was joined on base two batters later by Addie Menke who also singled. Vodicka brought home Dodd and ended Coe's scoring in the next at-bat, registering the Kohawks' third single of the inning to make it 2-0. Bethany Lutheran got one immediately back in the fifth, scoring one two-out single after small balling a leadoff walk to second. Thurow worked around some traffic in the final two innings, stranding a pair of runners in the sixth before leaving the bases loaded in the seventh.
#4 COE 5 - SMU 4 - 8 INNNINGS
Game Facts
- Abbie White got the start for Coe in game two and quickly found her groove, allowing just two singles up the middle in the opening three innings. The junior ran into some trouble in the top of the fourth, surrendering a leadoff walk before giving up a two-run homer later in the frame. She settled down following the drive, recording a groundout before Stookey gunned down a runner trying to steal second. The Kohawks quickly picked up their pitcher in the bottom of the inning, getting three of their first four runners on base. Dodd was the third hitter to reach, delivering an RBI single to push home Kappeler for Coe's first run. Menke then picked up a two-RBI sacrifice fly later in the inning, driving home Dodd and Parson on a deep fly out to right field. White remained in control for the new few innings but again ran into issues as she attempted to close out the one-run game. After issuing back-to-back walks White was replaced by Thurow, who immediately surrendered the game-tying single. She stayed cool and got the final two outs of the inning, inducing a popout before a play at the plate went in Coe's favor as Parson and Vodicka combined to gun down the go-ahead runner at home. SMU took the lead in the top of the eighth after Coe went quietly in the seventh, getting a two-out single to grab a 4-3 lead. The Kohawks showed no signs of panic despite the deficit, using the placed runner and walk from Kappeler to set the stage for the middle of the order. Stookey singled in the next at bat to load the bases for Parson who delivered the big blow, singling to right-center to easily score Boeckenstedt and Kappeler.
Up Next: Coe is back in action next weekend in Decatur, Illinois, taking part in the Millikin Invite on Saturday, March 2 and Sunday, March 3. Coe will face Hanover College and Millikin on March 3 and UW-Eau Claire and Millikin on Sunday.
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