CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa --- Coe College junior Ben Strellner threw a complete-game six-hitter allowing one run to lead the Kohawks to the 2012 Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) Baseball Tournament crown with a 4-1 victory over Buena Vista University Saturday at Perfect Game Field/Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The tournament title is the second in as many years for the Kohawks and grants them an automatic berth into the 2012 NCAA Division III Baseball Championship, which begins May 16 at eight regional sites. It will be Coe's fifth trip to the national tournament and third since 2006 (1977, 1978, 2006, 2011, 2012).
Coe jumped on the board with two runs in the second inning. After Spencer Sobba drew a 2-out walk, he advanced to third on a single by John Delaplane down the right field line and scored on a Brennan Melloy singled to left center. J.D. Hunter followed with a single through the right side, scoring Delaplane.
Buena Vista had a pair of runners on with one out in the third, but Strellner induced Weston Foxx to hit into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.
The Kohawks added a pair of unearned runs in the fourth as Tyler Leadley scored on a Sean Raisch sacrifice fly after reaching third due to an errant throw on a bunt attempt by with Tyler Leadley scoring on a Sean Raisch sacrifice fly after moving to third on an errant throw on a Adam Nisenson bunt. Nisenson scored the second run on a ball hit by Sobba that was misplayed up the middle.
Buena Vista got on the board in the fourth when Joe Paletta doubled in Nick Schlecht and threatened in the fifth with runners at second and third but was unable to push a run across.
Buena Vista advanced to the championship game with a 10-2 win over Luther earlier on Saturday. The Norse had won three elimination games Friday as was unable to keep up with a Beaver offense that pounded out 16 hits off six Norse pitchers.
Brock Yossi led the Beavers, going 4-for-5 with two RBI. Weston Foxx, Ryan Scheetz and Joe Paletta each had three hits and two runs scored with Scheetz driving in a pair.
Reggie Kock threw a complete game for BVU, allowing two runs on five hits, while walking three and striking out five.