CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - An early grand slam by Wartburg didn't faze the Kohawks on Saturday, as they came back for a 12-7 win over the 14th-ranked Knights in the Iowa Conference Tournament Championship.
Coe started the scoring in the first inning. Junior Craig Konrardy (Waterloo, Iowa/Columbus) was hit by a pitch and stole second. A ground ball by senior Michael Goerdt (Waterloo, Iowa/Columbus) moved Konrardy to third before he scored on a single to right field by senior AJ Reuter (Monticello, Iowa/Monticello). The Knights came out firing in the second inning. With one out, Wilson reached on an error by the Kohawks. Back-to-back singles loaded the bases before Mougin struck out. Two pitches later, Litterer hit a grand slam to left field, giving the Knights a 4-1 lead.
The Kohawks slowly crept back into the game before breaking it open. In the top of the fifth, Konrardy doubled through the left side to start the inning. With two outs, senior Jack Hoffmann (Dubuque, Iowa/Wahlert) singled to left center, plating Konrardy. The sixth inning was a big one for the Kohawks, as they crossed the plate six times on six hits and an error. Freshman Grant Henning (DeWitt, Iowa/Central-Clinton) singled through the left side to start the inning before junior Michael Redmond (Marion, Iowa/Linn-Mar) singled up the middle. A single up the middle by senior Michael Redmond plated Henning. A sacrifice bunt by junior Alec Zwanziger (New Hampton, Iowa/New Hampton) moved Tomlinson and Redmond into scoring position.
Konrardy then tripled to left center, giving the Kohawks the lead as Tomlinson and Redmond scored. With two outs, Reuter was hit by a pitch. Konrardy would score on a wild pitch before Hoffmann singled to left field to plate Reuter. Hoffmann came in for the final run of the inning on a single by senior Jory Heckenberg (Stockport, Iowa/Van Buren).
Wartburg added two runs on two hits in the sixth, but the Kohawks added space again in the top of the seventh. Redmond and Tomlinson singled to start the inning before moving into scoring position on another sacrifice bunt by Zwanziger. Konrardy was intentionally walked to load the bases before Goerdt hit a sacrifice fly to center field, driving in Redmond. Reuter then doubled down the right field line, as Konrardy and Tomlinson scored.
Coe added its final run in the eighth inning. Henning was hit by a pitch to start the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Redmond. Sophomore Andrew Brierton (Cary, Ill./Cary Grove) hit a single up the middle, plating Henning for the final run. The Knights added a run in the bottom of the eighth, but it wasn't enough as Coe won 12-7.
Reuter and Hoffmann led the Kohawks with three hits apiece, while Konrardy, Redmond and Tomlinson had two each. Reuter drove in three, with Konrardy and Hoffmann each plated a pair. Konrardy scored four runs, with Henning, Redmond and Tomlinson each crossing the plate twice. Konrardy set the school record for hits in a season (73) and runs scored (50) in the win. He also moved into a tie for second in school history with his fifth double of the year. Hoffmann is now tied for seventh with 41 RBI on the season. Redmond became the 30th player in school history to record 100 career hits.
Sophomore Ben Jacobson (Ottosen, Iowa/Humboldt) earned the win on the mound, as he improved to 6-3 on the year. He struck out four, while giving up five runs (one earned) on six hits. Hoffmann earned his second save of the tournament, as he threw the final three and two-thirds innings. He struck out three while giving up one earned run on three hits.
The Kohawks will find out their NCAA Tournament destination and opponent late Sunday night or early Monday morning. Check back to CoeAthletics.com next week for more details.