Coe College (Iowa) 4, Saint John's University (Minn.) 2La Crosse, Wis. - Coe College (Iowa) earned a 4-2 victory over Saint John's University (Minn.) in the opening game Wednesday at the NCAA Division III Baseball Midwest Regional at Copeland Park. Coe (Iowa) improves to 32-12 on the season, tying a single-season school record for victories (2011). The Kohawks advance to play the winner of UW-Whitewater/Ripon College (Wis.) Thursday, May 14 at 4:30 p.m. Saint John's (Minn.) falls to 26-15 on the year and will play in an elimination game Thursday, May 14 at 10 a.m. versus the loser of UW-Whitewater/Ripon (Wis.).
St. John's (Minn.) got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the opening inning. The Johnnies took a 1-0 lead after Aaron Pfaff scored from third on a RBI single from Gabe McDonald, who extended his school record hitting streak to 27-games. Coe (Iowa) pitcher Connor Alberhasky was able limit St. John's (Minn.) to just one run on four base hits in the frame.
The Kohawks took the lead in the top of the second with a pair of runs. Jack Hoffman singled up the middle to open the inning and advanced to second with two outs after Michael Redmond was hit-by-pitch. Saint John's (Minn.) starter Tyler Delwiche then walked three straight batters to force in a pair of runs with Alec Zwanziger and Craig Konrardy drawing walks with the bases-loaded.
Coe (Iowa) extended its lead with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. Zwanziger scored on a RBI single from Konrardy, making it 3-1. Konrardy was thrown out on the play trying to advance to second. Michael Goerdt then reached on a bunt single, and advanced to third on an AJ Reuter single. Hoffmann's single to center scored Goerdt to make it 4-1.
Saint John's (Minn.) got a run back in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to 4-2. Pfaff singled to open the inning, advanced to second on a failed pick-off attempt from the catcher, and went to third on a wild pitch. After a strikeout, Pfaff scored on another wild pitch from Alberhasky to make it 4-2.
The Johnnies threatened in the seventh, getting two on with one out after Derek Schiebel was hit-by-pitch and Logan Hershey walked, but a sharp grounder to third allowed Coe's (Iowa) Joey Heckenberg to step on the bag for the force and throw to first to complete the double play.
Alberhasky (5-4) earned the win for Coe (Iowa), pitching seven innings, allowing two runs (one earned) while scattering nine hits. He struck out four and walked two. Hoffmann picked up his third save of the season, going the final 2.0 innings, allowing one hit and one walk. Konrardy finished 2-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored for the Kohawks while Hoffmann went 2-for-5 with a run scored and RBI. Grant Henning also finished 2-for-5.
Delwiche (3-4) suffered the loss for Saint John's (Minn.), pitching a complete-game. He went 9.0 innings, allowing 10 hits, four runs and six walks while striking out five. Pfaff finished 3-for-4 for the Johnnies, scoring both runs. Tom Druk and Patrick Strey each went 2-for-4.
