McMINNVILLE, Ore. - There is no better time to be playing your best baseball of the season than the NCAA Tournament. After a first round loss, the Kohawks have won back-to-back games, beating La Verne 5-0 to advance to the final day of the NCAA Regionals.
For the second time in less than a week, the Kohawks got a gem from junior hurlerBen Strellner (Marion, Iowa/Linn-Mar). After throwing a complete game against Buena Vista in the championship game of the Iowa Conference Tournament last Saturday, Strellner threw a complete game shutout against La Verne in the third game of the NCAA Regional Championships for the Kohawks.
Strellner received plenty of offensive support, as the Kohawks ripped 12 hits in the game, including three in the first inning as they took a 2-0 lead right off the bat. SeniorScott DeAngelis (Clinton, Iowa/Clinton) opened the game with a triple to right center. A ground ball to shortstop by senior Tyler Leadley (Fort Dodge, Iowa/Fort Dodge) brought in DeAngelis for the first run. Junior Nick Stein (Scottsdale, Ariz./Horizon) doubled to right center with one out. With two outs, seniors Sean Raisch (Urbandale, Iowa/Urbandale) and Spencer Sobba (Kansas City, Mo./St. Pius X) walked on back-to-back at-bats. With the bases loaded, senior John Delaplane (Downers Grove, Ill./North) Singled to third base, as Stein scored the second run of the inning.
The biggest threat from the Leopards came in the fourth inning. With two outs, La Verne put up back-to-back singles and a walk to load the bases. Strellner worked his magic again, leaving all three runners on base as G. Hanna grounded out to third base.
Delaplane singled to second base to start the seventh inning and advanced to second on a throwing error by the second baseman. A bunt single down the third baseline by senior Brennan Melloy (Bernard, Iowa/Cascade) put runners on the corners. JuniorJD Hunter (Iowa City, Iowa/Regina) singled to the pitcher, plating Delaplane for the 3-0 lead.
Coe needed just two hits in the eighth inning to extend its lead to 5-0. SeniorAdam Nisenson (Crystal Lake, Ill./Central) doubled to left center in the first at-bat of the inning. Raisch then doubled down the right field line, driving in Nisenson for the 5-0 lead.
La Verne attempted a two-out rally in the eighth inning as well, but left runners on first and second as J. Moralez flied out to right field. With one out in the top of the ninth, Hunter singled up the middle. Following a pitching change, DeAngelis walked to move Hunter to second. Following two more pitching changes and with two outs, Stein reached on an error by the third baseman, allowing Hunter to score the final run of the game.
After a lead-off walk by M. Steward in the bottom of the ninth inning, Strellner got a fly ball to right field and a double play to complete the shutout.
The Kohawks had a productive day in the 7-8-9 hitters in the lineup, as Delaplane, Melloy and Hunter were a combined 7-for-12. Delaplane led the Kohawks with three hits, while Stein, Melloy and Hunter added two apiece.
In the complete game shutout, Strellner struck out two and walked two, while giving up six hits. With 171 at-bats on the year, Leadley moved into fifth on the single-season at-bats list with 171. With two doubles in the game, Stein increased his career total to 38, tying Ryan Velvick for third on the all-time list.
Coe will return to action on Saturday at 2 p.m. Central time against 10th-ranked Trinity (Texas). The winner will move on to face Whitworth for the McMinnville Regional Championship at 5:30 p.m. central time and a berth in the NCAA College World Series.