Double Plays Give Coe First Ever Tourney Win

Box Score

     In a game that featured plenty of dramatics, Coe saved the best for last with a game-ending double play in the bottom of the 10th inning to preserve a 5-4 win over St. Thomas for its first ever NCAA Division III tournament victory on Wednesday in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.

     The Kohawks scored two runs without the benefit of a hit in the top of the 10th and then worked out a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the bottom of the inning with an inning-ending double play for the third straight inning. Coe is now 27-17 overall and faces St. Olaf on Thursday at 1 p.m., while St. Thomas fell to 29-10 and takes the field in less than 13 hours, meeting Dominican at 9:30 a.m.

     St. Thomas jumped out to a quick start with a two-run home run by Mike Kimlinger in the third inning. Coe, which was held to one hit through the first four innings by Tommies� starter Erik Olson, got a solo homer from Justin Maxwell in the fifth and tied the game on a run-scoring single by Chad Kramer in the sixth before Will Renner�s single put the Kohawks ahead.

     The Tommies tied the game in the seventh on a two-out single by Matt Pexa, but then hit into double plays in the eighth and ninth innings. Coe went ahead in the top of the 10th on four walks and an error. Cody Smith drove in a run on a groundout and Renner drew a bases loaded walk.

     St. Thomas drew a pair of walks to lead off the bottom of the 10th and got a run-scoring single from Zach Goldberg to cut the lead to 5-4. Smith entered the game in relief of Brandon Hunt and worked out of the jam when Mike Moran bunted and Dan Leslie hit into the game-ending double play after an intentional walk.

     Hunt pitched two innings in relief of starter Ryan Nicholson for the Kohawks. Chris Bullis took the loss with three innings of relief for the Tommies.