Central College Athletics

NCAA Division III Pella, Iowa Regional
GAME-5
University of St. Thomas (Minn.) 12, Coe College 8
St. Thomas had to withstand a 5-run fifth inning Coe surge but used a 15-hit assault of its own to capture the Pella, Iowa Regional title.

Needing two wins Sunday, Coe came out swinging with three runs in the top of the first, but a 3-run Megan Bush homer in the bottom of the frame tied it and the Tommies put up four more runs in the second on five hits and a Coe error. The lead was stretched to 9-3 in the fourth before Coe came to life in the fifth. The 5-run inning was highlighted by a 2-run Haley Jones homer, her 10th of the season. But in perhaps the game’s pivotal moment, Coe left the bases loaded when pitcher Jessica Eppenberger, facing a 3-0 count, induced an inning-ending grounder to shortstop Rachel Suter.

Eppenberger (18-4) got the win with five innings of relief, allowing four earned runs and seven hits with a walk and one strikeout. Alyssa Olson (13-7) took the loss for Coe, which ended the season at 31-11.

???????St. Thomas tacked on three more runs in the next two innings, sending the Tommies (37-9) to next week’s super regional against Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference rival St. Catherine, winner of the Decorah, Iowa Regional.