Coe’s Nicki Wood uses simple approach for big day at the plate

CEDAR RAPIDS — See ball. Hit ball.

The simple approach has served Coe junior Nicki Wood well. It also allowed her to provide the Kohawks with a timely spark.

Wood connected for a double to drive in the go-ahead run in a 5-1 victory, helping Coe earn a doubleheader split against Grinnell Tuesday at Clark Field. The Pioneers recorded a 3-2 triumph in the opener for their first ever over the Kohawks.

Wood capped a 3-for-3 performance in Game 2, igniting the four-run sixth inning with just her second extra-base hit of the season.

“I was just trying to keep everything simple and not trying to do too much,” said Wood, who finished with four hits and two RBIs and improved her batting average to .328. “I just look for pitches I like and swing. Not a lot was going on in my head.”

Wood is third on the team in average and second with 19 hits. She had an RBI single in her first at-bat of the day. Wood had a bunt single that loaded the bases in the second inning of the nightcap, setting up Heather Boeckenstedt’s RBI single that made it 1-0.

“She works really hard at the plate to put the ball in play and get us a run,” Coe Coach Diane Meyer said. “I thought she did a really good one.”

Meyer said Wood’s speed allows her to cover a lot of ground in center field and can be utilized at the plate as well. This is her fourth season in the program and she knows what it takes to boost the team.

“She just works so hard,” Meyer said. “She never quits. She never gets down on herself, whether she hits the ball or doesn’t. She plays hard all the time. It’s good to see her be successful.

“She’s been doing a nice job for us in that No. 9 spot.”

Wood displays a love for the game that developed in her hometown of Lansing. The area is known for its passion for baseball and softball. Wood spent a lot of time on a diamond, playing with friends. She has brought that same energy to the Coe lineup.

“Growing up, we did a lot of softball every single weekend,” Wood said. “We played a lot and learned to love it.”

Skyler Stookey started the late rally with a leadoff single. Pinch runner Maya Lindgren advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and moved to third on a throwing error. After a walk to Chloe Severson, Wood gave Coe the lead for good with a shot to the left-center field gap.

The floodgates opened. Boeckenstedt was hit by a pitch and Natalie Blank followed with a two-run single. Madi Parson capped the scoring with a run-scoring single. Abbie White pitched two shutout innings for her seventh win of the season.

Keera Ball led the Kohawks in the first game. She went 1-for-1, belting a triple and scoring on Shaylee Dodd’s double in the second inning. Ball also walked twice to reach base in all three at-bats. Addie Menke scored twice for Coe (14-8).

Grinnell is 9-12 overall and earned its first win in the series that began in 1981. This was the first meeting between the two programs since 2012.