CEDAR RAPIDS – Coe capitalized on early Cornell miscues and went on to claim a 7-1 victory in a neutral-site rivalry game between 2019 regional baseball qualifiers Tuesday night at Mount Mercy's Plaster Athletic Complex.

The Kohawks (2-1), favored to win the American Rivers Conference, plated a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning and led the rest of the way with help from a defense that turned four double plays against the Rams (0-3).

Senior third baseman Ian Renger (SR/Bloomingdale, Ill.) accounted for Cornell's lone run, belting a solo homer to left-center field to lead off the second. The Rams were limited to five total hits, including a pair of singles by Jeremy Canfield (SR/Downers Grove, Ill.). Thomas Jones (SR/Lindenhurst, Ill.) and Peyton Berthel (SR/Davenport, Iowa) had one hit apiece.

Coe built a 6-1 lead after three innings, although its lineup was held in check the remainder of the night against Cornell relievers Brett Potter (SO/Glendale Heights, Ill.), Jake Schope (SO/Littleton, Colo.), Preston Wright (SO/Orlando, Fla.) and Chad Dzierba (SO/Valparaiso, Ind.).

Wright pitched two impressive scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out two. Dzierba retired the Kohawks in order in the eighth.

The Rams couldn't take advantage of seven walks issued by Coe pitchers and stranded eight runners for the game. Cornell committed four errors in the field, all in the first five innings.

Cornell starting pitcher Kole Hinrichsen (SO/Washington, Iowa) was touched for seven hits and six runs over three innings. The sophomore struck out four and walked none.

Coe shortstop TJ Johnson went 4-for-4 at the plate with two runs, two RBIs and three stolen bases.

Coming up – The Rams travel to play Augustana (5-0) for a noon doubleheader Thursday in Moline, Ill. The Vikings are receiving votes in the D3baseball.com Top 25 Poll.