Softball loses heartbreakers to Coe

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Simpson suffered a pair of heart-breaking losses at the hands of ninth-ranked Coe on Wednesday, losing game one 1-0 and game two 2-1 in 10 innings.

Abby Flannagan hit a solo homer in the sixth inning of game one and followed that up with a walk-off homer in the 10th inning of game two for the Kohawks (26-3, 6-0 Iowa Conference).

Flannagan's home run in the opener spoiled a tremendous outing by Kaytlyn Ernst, who allowed just two hits in the complete-game loss. The only other hit Ernst (5-7) allowed was a single in the fourth inning.

Stacie Brown hit a one-out single in the fourth, the lone hit of the game for the Storm (16-12, 3-3). Madison Woodruff (14-1) struck out nine in the complete-game effort for Coe.

Abbie Van Vleet had Coe down to its last out in game two before the league-leading Kohawks came up with another timely hit.

Down 1-0 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, leadoff hitter Nicole Gentile hit a solo shot to left center to force extra innings. 

Flannagan homered to left to lead off the 10th, handing Van Vleet (10-2) her first conference loss. Van Vleet scattered eight hits and struck out four.

Simpson took a 1-0 lead in the top of the seventh when Emma Negrete drove in Britney Steele on a single with two outs. Steele, the No. 9 hitter, doubled off Arran Weeces with one out.

Negrete finished with a career-high four hits in game two, going 4-for-5 with four singles.

Weeces went nine innings in the no-decision and Woodruff (15-1) earned the win in relief.

Tori Haag led off the top of the 10th with a single, her second hit of the day, but was stranded at second.

The Storm return home Saturday to host Dubuque in an IIAC doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. The Spartans (17-9, 4-2) swept No. 5 Luther 7-6 and 6-4 on Wednesday in Dubuque.