Skyler Stookey hits 2 homers, Coe softball earns another conference sweep against Loras

CEDAR RAPIDS — Coe’s Skyler Stookey received a boost the moment she started pregame batting practice.

The junior catcher and enthusiastic contributor in the middle of the Kohawks lineup transferred that vibe into some big production, showing the ability that made her an all-region performer last season.

“I felt really good warming up in the cages,” Stookey said. “I just go through my same routine every time and it allows me to get dialed in.”

Stookey produced a huge day at the plate, belting two home runs, driving in four runs and scoring three in the opener of an American Rivers Conference softball doubleheader sweep over Loras Tuesday at Clark Field. The Kohawks won the opener, 10-2, in five innings and closed with a 7-1 victory. It was the second straight conference series sweep for Coe.

“You never know who is going to help you out,” Coe Coach Diane Meyer said. “Everybody played a part, whether they were on the field, in a substitution role or in the dugout. We had lots of energy and that just helps our team.

“I’m proud of all 23 kids today. They did a really, really good job.”

Stookey reached on an error and scored on Bree Mangelsen’s two-run double that gave Coe its first lead. Her next two at-bats were big, tripling her home run total this season.

Stookey lofted an offering over the center-field fence to lead off the fourth, putting Coe up 4-1. She wasn’t sure if she had gotten it all, but realized it was enough when she rounded first.

“I recognized the miss right out of the hand,” Stookey said. “I took advantage and drove the ball solid.”

Stookey added a three-run shot in the following inning when Coe pulled away with a sixth-run fifth to enact the mercy rule. This time, she turned on an inside pitch and lined it over the fence in left.

“That was a whole lot of staying in on a ball that was coming in on my hands,” Stookey said. “I just worked my best to drive a ball that most people don’t like to hit sometimes. I took it that way. Luckily, we cleared the fence by about three inches.”

Every Coe starter had at least one hit throughout the doubleheader. The Kohawks picked up in the nightcap where they left off in Game 1. Coe opened with three runs in the first, receiving RBI hits from Natalie Blank and Madi Parson.

Heather Boeckenstedt added a two-run home run in the three-run fourth. Sarah Milks had two hits and an RBI and Chloe Severson drove in a run for Coe (18-8, 7-3), which remained atop the conference standings.

“We’re a very close-knit team, so when one of us is struggling we all feel that but when we’re all succeeding the energy is high in the dugout and everyone is excited to get hits for the team rather than themselves,” Stookey said. “It shows with 17 runs in two games and that’s something we haven’t done for a long time, which is good to see, going into the back half of the conference (schedule).”

Coe pitchers allowed just three total runs and scattered 13 hits. Freshman Allie White improved to 8-1 with a win in Game 1. Abby Stock earned her sixth victory, going six innings in the nightcap.

“She’s done well locating pitches,” Meyer said of White. “She is trusting the calls she gets from the dugout and her defense. She doesn’t throw it 63 miles per hour but she can spin it pretty well and she does a good job of hitting her spots. She has a lot of confidence in herself and her team. That is big in pitching.”

Loras is 17-7 overall and 4-6 in the A-R-C.

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