Coe News
Sun, May 10, 2009 - [Softball]
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Trailing by two runs going into its final at-bat, the Coe softball team turned in an unbelievable ending in game one for a 4-3 win. To top it off, the Kohawks rallied for a 3-1 win in game two to advance to the College World Series for the second time in four years.Things looked promising for the Kohawks in the first inning of game one, as they loaded the bases right off the bat. Illinois Wesleyan, the host of the first round tournament, worked its way out of a jam and held the Kohawks to no runs.
The Kohawks weren't as lucky in the bottom half of the inning, giving up two runs on one hit and an error. The Titans left two runners on base as well.
Coe cut into the lead in the third inning. Senior Ashley Leonard (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy) singled to left field to start the inning. With one out, Leonard stole second to move into scoring position. Junior Chelsea Zaugg (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Xavier) reached on a fielders choice, as the shortstop tried to throw Leonard out at third, but was unsuccessful. Leonard was plated on a fielders choice by senior Amy Hanse (Marion, Iowa/Linn-Mar), making it a 2-1 lead for the Titans.
The Titans extended their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with one run on two hits, while leaving two runners on base. When it looked like the Kohawks were down and out in the top of the seventh, they fought back for an unbelievable finish.
Freshman Amanda Hanson (Riverside, Iowa/Highland) singled to short stop to lead off the inning. Leonard then singled to third base, moving Hanson to second. With one out, Zaugg reached on an error by the second baseman that moved Leonard to third and allowed Hanson to score. Zaugg moved to second on the play.
Leonard was thrown out at home on a fielders choice by Hanse for the second out of the inning. On the very next pitch, senior Sonja Schwenker (Burlington, Iowa/Burlington) singled up the middle to plate Hanse and Zaugg, giving the Kohawks their first lead of the game.
Looking for her 22nd win of the year, freshman Ashlee Simon (Riverside, Iowa/Highland) struck out the side on 10 pitches to send the Kohawks to the "if necessary" game of the regional tournament.
Leonard led the Kohawks with two hits in the first game. Schwenker earned a no decision in five innings in the circle. She struck out nine, while giving up four hits and two earned runs. Simon improved to 22-4 on the year in two innings. She struck out five, while allowing just one hit.
Things didn't start too hot for the Kohawks in the final game, as Illinois Wesleyan led the game off with a home run over the center field fence, but the Kohawks fought back for the win.
Coe took its first lead of the game in the third inning with two runs on three hits, while leaving one runner on. With one out, junior Erica Smothers (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy) singled up the middle for the first hit of the inning. Another single up the middle by Zaugg moved Smothers to second.
The Kohawks tied the game on an RBI single to center field by Hanse, which plated Smothers and moved Zaugg to third on the throw. Zaugg scored on a fielders choice by Schwenker to give the Kohawks the final lead of the game.
Coe left two runners on base in the fourth before adding one final run in the fifth inning on two hits. With one out, Hanse singled up the middle. With sophomore Emily Burress (Des Moines, Iowa/Roosevelt) pinch running for Hanse, Schwenker grounded out to second ,moving Burress to second. A single to left field by sophomore CC Williams (Lisbon, Iowa/Lisbon) gave the Kohawks some added insurance.
Hanse led the Kohawks with two hits in the championship game. Simon improved to 23-4 with the win. The freshman struck out 14, while giving up just three hits in the win.
With the pair of victories, the Kohawks have advanced to the NCAA Division III College World Series for the second time in four years. Coe will face Salisbury (Mary.) in the opening round of the eight-team tournament on Friday at 5:30 p.m. central time.
The Kohawks weren't as lucky in the bottom half of the inning, giving up two runs on one hit and an error. The Titans left two runners on base as well.
Coe cut into the lead in the third inning. Senior Ashley Leonard (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy) singled to left field to start the inning. With one out, Leonard stole second to move into scoring position. Junior Chelsea Zaugg (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Xavier) reached on a fielders choice, as the shortstop tried to throw Leonard out at third, but was unsuccessful. Leonard was plated on a fielders choice by senior Amy Hanse (Marion, Iowa/Linn-Mar), making it a 2-1 lead for the Titans.
The Titans extended their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with one run on two hits, while leaving two runners on base. When it looked like the Kohawks were down and out in the top of the seventh, they fought back for an unbelievable finish.
Freshman Amanda Hanson (Riverside, Iowa/Highland) singled to short stop to lead off the inning. Leonard then singled to third base, moving Hanson to second. With one out, Zaugg reached on an error by the second baseman that moved Leonard to third and allowed Hanson to score. Zaugg moved to second on the play.
Leonard was thrown out at home on a fielders choice by Hanse for the second out of the inning. On the very next pitch, senior Sonja Schwenker (Burlington, Iowa/Burlington) singled up the middle to plate Hanse and Zaugg, giving the Kohawks their first lead of the game.
Looking for her 22nd win of the year, freshman Ashlee Simon (Riverside, Iowa/Highland) struck out the side on 10 pitches to send the Kohawks to the "if necessary" game of the regional tournament.
Leonard led the Kohawks with two hits in the first game. Schwenker earned a no decision in five innings in the circle. She struck out nine, while giving up four hits and two earned runs. Simon improved to 22-4 on the year in two innings. She struck out five, while allowing just one hit.
Things didn't start too hot for the Kohawks in the final game, as Illinois Wesleyan led the game off with a home run over the center field fence, but the Kohawks fought back for the win.
Coe took its first lead of the game in the third inning with two runs on three hits, while leaving one runner on. With one out, junior Erica Smothers (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy) singled up the middle for the first hit of the inning. Another single up the middle by Zaugg moved Smothers to second.
The Kohawks tied the game on an RBI single to center field by Hanse, which plated Smothers and moved Zaugg to third on the throw. Zaugg scored on a fielders choice by Schwenker to give the Kohawks the final lead of the game.
Coe left two runners on base in the fourth before adding one final run in the fifth inning on two hits. With one out, Hanse singled up the middle. With sophomore Emily Burress (Des Moines, Iowa/Roosevelt) pinch running for Hanse, Schwenker grounded out to second ,moving Burress to second. A single to left field by sophomore CC Williams (Lisbon, Iowa/Lisbon) gave the Kohawks some added insurance.
Hanse led the Kohawks with two hits in the championship game. Simon improved to 23-4 with the win. The freshman struck out 14, while giving up just three hits in the win.
With the pair of victories, the Kohawks have advanced to the NCAA Division III College World Series for the second time in four years. Coe will face Salisbury (Mary.) in the opening round of the eight-team tournament on Friday at 5:30 p.m. central time.
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