| Bob Timmons followed the late Donna Newberry of
Muskingum and Central's George Wares to the 800-win plateau. Coe athletics photo by Ryan Workman |
A pair of one-hit shutouts highlighted Coe softball coach Bob Timmons' 800th win Tuesday afternoon. The Kohawks beat UW-Platteville 5-0 and 8-0, as Timmons became the third coach in NCAA Division III history to record 800 wins.
Timmons' career mark stands at 800-328 (.709). He won 375 of those games at Mount Mercy, currently a member of the NAIA.
It took late scores in both games, but Coe game away with two wins, while playing a flawless game on the defensive side of the ball. In the opener, sophomore Callie Morningstar led the inning off with a double to left center. With one out, senior Shannon Aguero grounded out to the pitcher, moving Morningstar to third. An error by the second baseman allowed junior Brandi Haight to reach base and Morningstar to score the first run of the game.
A big seventh inning put the game away for the Kohawks. Pinch hitting, senior CC Williams doubled to left field. A sacrifice bunt by freshman Maggie Wettstein moved freshman Ashley Jimenez, whom was pinch running for Williams, to third. A one-out walk by junior Ashley Hood put runners on the corners.
Junior Amanda Hanson singled up the middle, plating Jimenez and moving Hood to third. A bunt single by Morningstar plated Hood, but Hanson was thrown out trying to reach third. A fielding error by the first baseman on a bunt allowed freshman Abby Flannagan to reach and Morningstar to score. Before Aguero walked, Flannagan stole second base. A single up the middle by Haight brought in Flannagan for the final run of the game.
Hood, Hanson, Morningstar and Haight led the Kohawks with two hits apiece in the opener. Morningstar also scored a pair of runs. Junior Ashlee Simon improved to 11-1 in the circle. She went the distance, striking out 15 and giving up just one hit.
The nightcap was just like the first game, as Coe scored one run in the second and seven in the sixth to win the game by run rule, 8-0. With one out in the second, junior Sidney Ridout singled to left center. A sacrifice bunt by Wettstein moved Ridout to second. Hood walked before Hanson singled to center field, loading the bases for Morningstar. A walk by Morningstar brought in the first run of the game.
Coe's sixth inning rally started with one out, as Morningstar was walked again. Morningstar moved to second on a wild pitch, as Flannagan reached on a fielders choice with Morningstar moved to third. With two outs, junior Micah Nardini, pinch-running for Flannagan, stole second for her first career stolen base. A single up the middle by freshman Danielle Schlotterbeck plated Morningstar and Nardini. A double to center field by Williams plated Schlotterbeck. A second double in a row, this time by Ridout, plated freshman Kristen Borrasso, whom was pinch-running for Williams.
Ridout then advanced to third on an illegal pitch and also scored on an illegal pitch as Wettstein was hit by the same pitch. After a walk by Hood, Wettstein and Hood moved to second and third on an illegal pitch. The Kohawks final two runs came on a single to center field by Hanson.
Coe was led offensively by Ridout's three hits, while Hanson and Williams added a pair apiece. Freshman Maddison Woodruff improved to 6-3 in the circle, as she struck out 11, giving up just one hit.
The 17th-ranked Kohawks improved to 17-4 on the season. Coe will travel to fifth-ranked Luther Saturday in the Iowa Conference opener for both schools. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. in Decorah.