CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The oldest sport at Coe College added another mark in the history books on Saturday, as seniorConnor Alberhasky (Iowa City, Iowa/City) threw the third no-hitter in school history against Loras.
The first run of the game came in the fourth inning. With one out, senior AJ Reuter (Monticello, Iowa/Monticello) singled to center field, moving fellow seniorCole Tomlinson (Trabuco Canyon, Calif./El Toro) to second. Tomlinson would come around to score as junior Michael Redmond (Marion, Iowa/Linn-Mar) reached on a fielder's choice, with both moving up on a throwing error by the second baseman. Coe put up another run in the fifth inning. FreshmanGrant Henning (DeWitt, Iowa/Central-Clinton) was hit by a pitch before advancing to second on a passed ball. JuniorAlec Zwanziger (New Hampton, Iowa/New Hampton) singled to center field to bring in Henning.
Coe broke the game open in the sixth inning. Tomlinson walked to start the sixth before moving to second on an infield single by Reuter. A fielder's choice sacrifice bunt by Redmond loaded the bases. Senior Jack Hoffmann (Dubuque, Iowa/Wahlert) hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring in Tomlinson. A wild pitch moved Redmond and Reuter up before Henning hit his first career home run to left field, pushing Coe's lead to 6-0. SeniorJory Heckenberg (Stockport, Iowa/Van Buren) doubled to right center and moved to third on a wild pitch. JuniorCraig Konrardy (Waterloo, Iowa/Columbus) was walked before senior Michael Goerdt (Waterloo, Iowa/Columbus) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Tomlinson was walked to bring in Heckenberg for the final run of the game. Koester pinch hit in the seventh for the Duhawks, reaching on a fielding error. It was just the second runner to reach base for Loras following a walk in the fifth inning. Koester was quickly erased, as Crabill hit into a double play. A fly ball to center field ended the game, giving Alberhasky the no-hitter.
It was the first no-hitter in Iowa Conference play for the Kohawks. Alberhasky joined Shane Staker in 1997 and Dave Drahn in 1985 as the only Kohawks to throw a no-hitter. The last no-hitter in Iowa Conference play came in 2011, as Loras' Kendall Pluch no-hit Cornell. Alberhasky stuck out five in the victory.
Goerdt and Reuter led the Kohawks with two hits apiece, while Tomlinson and Henning each scored twice. Henning finished with three RBI.
The Kohawks struck first in the nightcap. With one out in the first, Goerdt homered to right field. The Duhawks answered back with a run to tie the game in the second and a pair of unearned runs in the third to take a 3-1 lead.
Coe took the lead for good in the fourth inning. Reuter singled to right field. With two outs, Hoffmann walked on four-straight pitches. Henning then hit his second home run of the day, giving Coe a 4-3 lead. Coe put up another three spot in the fifth. With one out, Tomlinson singled to right center before Reuter singled to left. A single through the right side by Redmond plated Tomlinson. Hoffman then singled through the left side to load the bases. Reuter scored on a passed ball before Henning singled up the middle to plate Redmond.
The final runs of the game for Coe came in the sixth. Goerdt singled to right field to start the inning before Tomlinson was walked. Reuter singled through the left side to plate Goerdt. Reuter and Tomlinson moved up on stolen bases before Hoffmann hit a sacrifice fly to plate Tomlinson. Loras added a pair of runs in the seventh, leaving Coe with the 9-5 victory.
Hoffmann had a no decision on the mound in the start, striking out one and walking one in three innings. He gave up three unearned runs on three hits. Sophomore Cal Kragenbrink (Mount Vernon, Iowa/Mount Vernon) earned the win, giving up a hit in two innings without issuing a run. Freshman Michael Greene (Westmont, Ill./Nazareth Academy) threw two innings, giving up a pair of runs while striking out one. Sophomore Thomas Schaedel (Chicago, Ill./Notre Dame Prep) tossed the final two innings, giving up a pair of hits.
Reuter led Coe with three hits in the nightcap, while Goerdt and Henning had two apiece. Goerdt, Tomlinson and Reuter each scored twice. Henning finished with four RBI.
The Kohawks (10-6, 3-5 IIAC) return to action Tuesday as they face 15th-ranked Buena Vista (13-2, 3-1 IIAC). First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Daniels Park. A link for live stats can be found at CoeAthletics.com.
