WAVERLY, Iowa – The sixth-seeded Coe College Softball team opened the 2026 American Rivers Conference softball tournament with an upset victory over third-seeded Luther College on Friday afternoon, defeating the Norse 8-4 to advance to Saturday's semifinals. The Kohawks, who will face second-seeded Simpson on Saturday at 1:30 PM, used a pair of four-run innings to down the Norse.
Grace McCarty got the party started in the third inning, producing a run-scoring double before a double steal later in the frame made it 2-0.
Irelynd Cejka capped off the frame in the same at-bat, blasting a two-run homer to break it open at 4-0. Kohawk starter
Natalie Hitt was nearly unhittable in the circle across the five frames, allowing just one hit and three base runners. Luther finally found an answer in the sixth, getting a three-run homer and a solo shot to quickly tie the game before the seventh. Hitt's offense picked her up as McCarty opened the inning with a single, setting the table for
Katelyn Bladecki who delivered a go-ahead single.
Haydn Shoots provided the key blow for Coe one batter later, making it 8-4 with a three-run homer that sealed the game. The Kohawks totaled 12 hits overall and were led by a pair of three-hit performances from
Taylor Drayfahl and McCarty.
COE 8 - LUTHER 4
- Drayfahl led off the third inning with a single and quickly stole second to move into scoring position. McCarty delivered the opening run with a double to right-center before a double steal with her and Maddie Harris made it 2-0. Cejka capped off the inning in style, blasting a two-run homer as Coe took a 4-0 lead. The Norse finally got the Hitt in the sixth inning, getting a leadoff walk and a hit batter to put pressure on the Kohawk starter. One big swing quickly made it a 4-3 game before another homer, this time a solo shot, leveled the game at four. McCarty opened the seventh with a single, but two quick outs looked to slim the chances. Cejka was hit by a pitch and put runners on first and second for Bladecki, who singled to right, allowing pinch-runner Ava Erger to score from second. Shoots put a punctuation on the victory in the next at-bat, blasting a three-run homer to left center as Coe claimed the game 8-4.
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