CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The Coe baseball team won its home opener in convincing fashion on Friday, beating the Central Dutch 8-2 at Daniels Park.  It was the first game in the state of Iowa for Coe on the year.
The Kohawks used a big second inning, as well as a strong pitching appearance by junior Cody Raisch (Urbandale, Iowa/Urbandale) to secure their seventh win of the season.  It was the fourth-straight win for the Kohawks, who won their final three games during a spring break trip to Orlando, Fla. last week.

Junior Ryan Schisler (Morrison, Ill./Morrison) hit the first pitch of the second inning for a single to start the Kohawks off.  After freshman John Logan (Marshalltown, Iowa/Marshalltown) flew out to center field, junior Pat Richmond (Algonquin, Ill./Dundee Crown) singled up the middle on a 1-2 count to move Schisler to third.

After taking back-to-back balls, junior Nick McKenzie (St. Louis, Mo./Lindbergh) drove a double to the right center gap, scoring both Schisler and Richmond to put the Kohawks ahead 2-0.  Senior Jon Reiner (Highland Park, Ill./Highland Park) then hit a double on the next pitch to score McKenzie.  On a 3-2 count, freshman Scott DeAngelis (Clinton, Iowa/Clinton) was hit by a pitch to put two runners on base.  Freshman Adam Nisenson (Crystal Lake, Ill./Central) walked to load the bases for senior Tyler McAllister (Ursa, Ill./Mendon-Unity).

McAllister singled the first pitch to right field, scoring Reiner and leaving the bases loaded for sophomore Ryan Velvick (Swisher, Iowa/Prairie).  Velvick drove the first pitch over the wall in right center field to score DeAngelis, Nisenson and McAllister.  It was the first home run by a Kohawk this season and put Coe in the lead 8-0.  Coe finished the inning with eight runs on six hits, while leaving two runners on base.

Velvick finished with four RBIs, while McKenzie added two.  Schisler, Richmond and McKenzie all had two hits on the day.  Richmond and McKenzie notched their third doubles of the season, while Reiner hit his second.  DeAngelis, Logan and McKenzie all stole their second base of the season for the Kohawks.

Raisch threw 143 pitches over the nine innings, while surrendering just nine hits to the Dutch, who fell to 4-8 on the season.  Raisch struck out five batters, while walking just one.  He also hit a batter.  Only one of his two runs were earned.

The Kohawks return to action on Saturday as they host Central in a doubleheader at Daniels Park.  First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.