The win marked the fourth of the season for Coe over Luther, as the Kohawks beat the Norse 11-6. Luther knocked off second ranked Central for the second time in the tournament earlier in the day, setting up a rematch of yesterday's winner's bracket game, where the Kohawks won 3-1. Both teams were held scoreless through the first two innings before a wild third inning. The Norse scored three runs on three hits in the top of the third to take the early lead, but Coe came roaring back putting up eight runs on four hits in the bottom of the inning.
Freshman Amanda Hanson (Riverside, Iowa/Highland) and Leonard led off the inning with singles, followed by an RBI double from Katie King (Altoona, Iowa/SE Polk). After a walk by Chelsea Zaugg (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Xavier), senior Amy Hanse (Marion, Iowa/Linn-Mar) singled in two more runs to tie the game at three. Another walk to senior Sonja Schwenker (Burlington, Iowa/Burlington) brought up CC Williams (Lisbon, Iowa/Lisbon) who flied out to center field knocking in Zaugg, giving the Kohawks the lead. Junior Mackenzie Lang (Urbandale, Iowa/Johnston) then walked to load the bases. Junior Erica Smothers (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy) followed up driving in two runs on a hard hit ball down the third baseline, with another run scoring after a Luther error during the play. Hanson, who led off the inning, then knocked in the eighth and final run of the inning scoring Smothers on a sacrifice bunt.
Luther scored three runs in the top of the fifth closing the Kohawk lead to 8-6. Schwenker hit a solo home run to lead off the bottom of fifth and then retired three straight in the top of the sixth . In the bottom of the inning Coe scored two more runs on a Hanse two run shot to center field extending the Kohawk lead to 11-6. The Norse rallied back in the top of the seventh loading the bases after a two out single. Schwenker fielded a routine groundball and threw to first for the final out of the game, giving the Kohawks the IIAC Tournament Title.
Schwenker threw a complete game, giving up three earned runs while striking out eight batters. She also went 3-for-3 at the plate, scoring two runs, while driving in another. Hanse finished the day 2-for-4 with a game high four RBIs. Williams added two hits and an RBI for the Kohawks, with Smothers also driving in two runs on the afternoon.
At 34-10, the Kohawks will find out Monday morning the location of their NCAA Championship games. Check back to www.CoeAthletics.com for more NCAA Championship details.
