INDIANOLA, Iowa - The Coe softball team picked up right where it left off last year's Iowa Conference Softball Tournament, as they beat Buena Vista 9-0 in five innings. The win was the fifth-straight straight in Iowa Conference Tournament play for the Kohawks.
The Kohawks, the fourth-seed in the tournament, posted a run in the first inning and never looked back. With one out, freshman Callie Morningstar (Lisbon, Iowa/Lisbon) doubled to right field. Senior Chelsea Zaugg (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Xavier) then hit her team-high ninth double of the season to left center field, plating Morningstar.
Coe used a big inning in the second, as they broke the game open with three runs on four hits, while they left two runners on base. With two outs, sophomore Amanda Hanson (Riverside, Iowa/Highland) singled through the left side. Hanson then stole second before advancing to third on a single to left field by senior Abby Wedemeier (Maynard, Iowa/West Central).
Wedemeier moved to second on the throw home. A hit-and-run single by Morninstar to left field plated Hanson and moved Wedemeier to third. An error by the second baseman allowed Zaugg to reach base, while Wedemeier scored on the play. A double to left field by senior Mackenzie Lang (Urbandale, Iowa/Johnston) plated Morningstar.
Coe added to its 4-0 lead with five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Hanson reached on an error by the third baseman to start the inning. Hanson was thrown out at second as Wedemeier reached on a fielder's choice. Morningstar then drove in her third run of the game with a two-run shot to right center, her fourth home run of the season.
Zaugg was then hit by a pitch and moved to third on a single to right center by Lang. An infield single by senior Katie Kramer (Nevada, Iowa/Ames) plated Zaugg. Following a walk by junior Shannon Aguero (Muscatine, Iowa/Muscatine), freshman Katie Gibson (Bonne Terre, Mo./North County) hit a two-run single down the left field line, as Kramer and Lang scored on the play.
Sophomore Ashlee Simon (Riverside, Iowa/Highland) earned her 20th win of the season in four innings in the circle. She became just the third player in school history with multiple 20 win seasons in their career. She struck out eight, while giving up no hits. Her eight strikeouts put her over 300 for the season, becoming just the second player in school history to do so.
Morningstar led the Kohawks with a 3-for-3 performance, while having three RBI and scoring three runs. Lang and Hanson were both 2-for-3.
The Kohawks return t o action tonight, as they face top-seeded Simpson at 5 p.m.
