Team effort powers Coe past Cornell, 6-3

CEDAR RAPIDS - Chip in and find a way to win.

Coe Coach Steve Cook has emphasized that message to his players and they seem to have responded.

Jack Hoffmann and Jory Heckenberg drove in three runs apiece and eight starters had at least one hit as the Kohawks topped rival Cornell, 6-3, Tuesday night at Memorial Stadium.

'Sometimes you get late in the year and that's all you stress to the guys,” Cook said. 'You play enough baseball you know it's never going to be the same way that it plays out, whether it's the offense is clicking or the defense, so we have been talking about finding ways to win, and being OK with that.”

The Kohawks (26-12) have shown resolve, posting hard-fought wins throughout the season. They were tested when Cornell battled back with three straight hits in the sixth. Walker Breard belted a two-out triple in the six, scoring Max Freilinger and Wyatt Kurzejeski and tying the game.

Cook said an experienced group goes about its business the entire game, resulting in a key three-run seventh.

'We talk about a nine-inning game,” Cook said. 'Whether you get it early, late or somewhere in the middle, you just have to find a way to get yours and grab your momentum at the decisive time.”

Coe broke open the game deadlocked at three apiece. They received one last contribution from Hoffman and Heckenberg. Hoffman scored Craig Konrardy on a fielder's choice to give Coe a 4-3 edge. Heckenberg padded the lead with a two-run single in the next at-bat.

'I think everybody comes through and does their part,” Heckenberg said. 'It could be somebody else in a different game and that is what is great about this team. We keep finding ways to win.”

Cook said Heckenberg has been a hot hitter for the Kohawks. He delivered three singles in four plate appearances, driving in Hoffman in the third for a 3-0 lead. He was comfortable in the batter's box.

'It felt good,” Heckenberg said. 'I've been swinging well lately.”

Hoffmann drove in the game-winning run and helped the Kohawks jump to an early lead. Hoffman's first-inning base hit scored Konrardy, who had three hits and scored twice. Hoffman also ripped a double in the third to drive in A.J. Reuter for the second run of the game.

'When you see that pitch, you know it's going to be the pitch of the at-bat,” Hoffmann said. 'You have to jump on it.

'I saw them and took advantage.”

Hoffmann entered the game second on the team with a .343 batting average. Sometimes superstitious, Hoffmann shed his regular stirrups for socks and he came up big for Coe. The stirrups may stay in the drawer for a bit longer.

'I'll be honest with you,” Hoffmann said. 'If things keep going the way they're going and we're winning games, I'll keep them.

'I'll keep them like this until something else changes.”

Cornell (14-17) got on the board in the fourth when Nate Streb scored on Beriah Quick's base hit. Quick and Freilinger led the Rams with two hits each.

The Kohawks close with a Wednesday game against Grinnell and a contest against Mount Mercy Thursday. They have finished their Iowa Conference regular-season schedule, awaiting the IIAC tournament. Currently, they have sole possession of second place with a 17-11 league mark as other teams close their conference slate this weekend. A No. 2 seed in the tournament would result in a first-round bye for a team, looking to peak for the postseason.

'I think we're getting hot at the right time,” Hoffmann said. 'Right now, we're starting to figure out who we are as a team. I think everyone is finding their role, whether on the bench, in the field or running. If we carry it over and continue to develop there is huge potential for us.”

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