DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Coe College Softball team picked up a crucial American Rivers Conference doubleheader sweep at the University of Dubuque Tuesday afternoon, defeating the Spartans 5-3 in game one and 5-1 in game two. The Kohawks rode the back of
Natalie Hitt in the opener as the junior hurled a complete game, where she allowed seven hits and three runs while recording three RBI at the plate. Hitt gave herself an early lead with a bases-loaded double in the first and got insurance in the second on an error. UD fought back with a three-run second, but a run-scoring single from
Grace McCarty in the fourth was enough for the Kohawks to claim the opener.
Morgan Hewitt matched Hitt with an equally impressive effort in the circle and at the plate in game two, pitching a complete game while totaling two hits and an RBI. Her offense gave her an early lead with two runs on a double steal in the opening inning before two RBI hits in the fourth made it 4-0.
Taylor Drayfahl delivered an RBI triple in the top of the sixth to extend the lead ahead of UD's lone run in the bottom of the sixth.
GAME ONE
COE 5 - DUBUQUE 3
- Coe scored three times in the first inning, with three batters reaching to start the game. Back-to-back outs put the scoring chance in jeopardy before Hitt delivered, clearing the bases with a three-run double. The Kohawks added another run in the second, starting with a two-out single from Keirah Wiseman. An error later in the inning allowed Wiseman to scamper home all the way from second after she had moved to second on a stolen base. Dubuque grabbed three runs back in the bottom of the inning, getting a pair of RBI hits before Hitt left the tying run on second. Coe scored the game's final run in the top of the fourth, as McCarty gave the Kohawks a key insurance run for 5-3. Hitt settled in for the final four innings, allowing just one base runner in the fifth en route to her 10th win of the year.
GAME TWO
COE 5 - DUBUQUE 1
- The Coe offense started well again, scoring twice in the first inning. Drayfahl and McCarty reached to start the inning and put themselves in motion with a double steal, swiping bases before moving up an additional 60 feet on an errant throw. The Kohawks doubled the lead in the fourth, getting four hits, including three straight to start the inning at Hitt, Hadyn Shoot, and Hewitt went back-to-back-to-back with hits for 4-0. Coe added one final insurance run in the sixth as Drayfahl continued her strong day, tripling home Hewitt, who singled earlier in the frame. Hewitt did see her shutout end in the bottom of the inning, allowing back-to-back doubles for UD's lone run before leaving two runners on with a key ground out and strikeout. The Cedar Rapids native went 1, 2, 3 in the bottom of the seventh, locking up her sixth win of the year and the sweep for Coe.
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