Coe Smothers Pioneers for
pair of wins in home opener
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Sophomore Erica
Smothers (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy) ignited
the Kohawk bats late in the first game of Tuesday's
doubleheader aginast Wisconsin-Platteville. With the
Kohawks leading 3-0 in the fifth inning, Smothers
hit the first of her two home runs in the game. Her
three-run shot increased the lead to 6-0 in the fifth
and her second three-run bomb ended the game on runs
as Coe won 10-1.
Smothers finished the game two for two
with six RBIs, while junior Danielle Leavens
(Charles City, Iowa/Charles City) was three for four
with two RBIs and senior April Kalmes
(Springville, Iowa/Springville) was two for three
with two RBIs.
Returning All-American Ellie
Schultz (Clayton, Iowa/Clayton Ridge) notched
her fifth win of the year in eight tries with a three-hit
outting. She struck out six in six innings on the
mound.
Smothers and junior transfer Sonja
Schwenker (Burlington, Iowa/Burlington) provided
the fire power of the offense in the second game.
Smothers had a double, while Schwenker homered in
the second inning. It was the second home run in three
games for Schwenker, who finished with four RBIs in
the game. Junior Ashley Leonard (Cedar
Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy) went two for two with an RBI.
Schwenker wasn't just helping her team
out with her offensive power, she was helping herself
out, as she went the full five innings on the mound
for the Kohawks. She struck out a season-high 10 batters,
while not surrendering a run for the sixth time this
season.
The Kohawks will return to action on
Saturday when they open Iowa Conference play against
Luther. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Clark
Field.