CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Day two of the American Rivers Conference Baseball Tournament saw fifth-seeded Coe advance to the championship game of the double elimination tournament by virtue of the winner’s bracket. Second-seeded Loras, who fell to Coe 11-3 in the day’s first game, advanced to Saturday, where they will face No. 6 Wartburg in an elimination game. 
 
Following game six of the tournament, where No. 5 Coe knocked off No. 2 Loras, No.1 Buena Vista and fourth-seeded Luther squared off in the tournament's second elimination game (Game 7). The Beavers stayed alive with a 5-4 victory. Buena Vista turned around to face sixth-seeded Wartburg in another elimination game (Game 8), where the Knights came out on top by a score of 7-3. 
 
The final day of the American Rivers Baseball Tournament will begin with an elimination game between No.2 Loras and No. 6 Wartburg at 10:00 a.m. The Coe College Kohawks will await the winner of Loras/Wartburg, for a Championship showdown at 1:00 PM. Should Coe drop the championship game, there will be a winner take all game at 4:00 PM, with the tournament title and conference's AQ to the NCAA Division III Championships on the line. 
 
Coe owns a 3-4 record in conference title games, winning the trophy in 2015, 2012 and 2011. The Kohawks also appeared in the 2021, 2019, 2017 and 2013 championship contests. Two Kohawk appearances squared them off against Buena Vista - Coe winning 2012 and BVU in 2019. Three additional appearances pitted Coe against Wartburg, with the Kohawks claiming the title twice. 
 
The Duhawks of Loras College are chasing the first AQ tournament title in program history. Loras has made three championship game appearances, all against Wartburg (2008, 2000, 1998). 
 
Wartburg owns a conference-best 18 championship game appearances, coming away with the title 10 times (2017, 2013, 2009, 20089, 2005, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998). The Knights have advanced to the Division III College World Series (Final 8) two times (2005, 2000). 
 
The winner of the double-elimination tournament receives the American Rivers Conference's automatic bid to the 2022 NCAA Division III Championships. The Regional round takes place May 19-22 followed by the 16-team Super Regional round the following weekend. Eight teams will emerge from the Super Regional round to line up at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium for the NCAA Division III Baseball Championships June 3-8. The American Rivers Conference and the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Class A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins) will host the Division III College World Series in 2022. To purchase tickets or find out more information on the 2022 NCAA Division III College World Series visit the championship page by CLICKING HERE.
 
American Rivers Conference Tournament Schedule / GAME RECAPS
Thursday - Recaps Click Here
Game 1 - 11:00 a.m. - No.4 Luther, 0 - No.5 Coe, 3 at Daniels Park
Game 2 - 11:00 a.m. - No.3 Nebraska Wesleyan, 2 - No.6 Wartburg, 13 - 8 Innings at Veterans Memorial Stadium
Game 3 - 2:00 p.m. - No.6 Wartburg, 10 - No.2 Loras, 13
Game 4 - 5:00 p.m. - No.5 Coe, 13 vs. No.1 Buena Vista, 2 - 7 Innings 
Game 5 - 8:00 p.m. - No.3 Nebraska Wesleyan, 3 vs. No.4 Luther, 5
 
Friday
Game 6 - 10:00 a.m. - No.2 Loras, 3 vs. No.5 Coe, 11
Day two opened with a winner’s bracket showdown that saw the Coe College Kohawks (20-19) pick up where they left off, compiling 13 hits on their way to defeating the Loras College Duhawks (32-10) 11-3. While Loras amassed nine hits of their own, the Kohawk defense held strong, allowing just three runs with no errors. 
 
For Coe it was Jack Allison leading the way at the plate, finishing the game 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. TJ Johnson drove in two runs and scored two runs while going 2-for-5. Also finishing 2-for-5 was Jacob Brosius, who crossed home plate once in the game. TJ Deardorff, after picking up a complete game victory against Luther yesterday, finished 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run. 
 
Earning the win for the Kohawks was Tyler Riebhoff, allowing just one hit and no runs in 3.1 innings. Starter, Tyce Johnson hurled 4.2 innings while giving up six hits and three runs. Austin Divello came in to close out the final inning, giving up two hits and no runs. 
 
Loras’ offense was led by Dylan Pardoe, who went 2-for-4. Luke Fennelly was 1-for-5, scoring one run and driving in one. Seven additional Duhawks produced one hit. 
 
Ryan Wholers picked up the loss, giving up seven hits and six runs in five innings of work. 
 
Game 7 - 1:00 p.m. - No.4 Luther, 4 vs. No.1 Buena Vista, 5 - 10 Innings

In a win-or-go-home game, top-seeded Buena Vista came out on top, defeating No. 4 Luther College 5-4 with an extra inning walk-off. The thriller of a game produced 24 hits, 14 by the Beavers and 11 by the Norse. 
 
A 3-for-4 performance at the plate by Jackson Smith paced BVU, highlighted by his walk-off RBI up the middle that scored Kyler Corcoran. Smith also scored one run. Jordan Mathewson finished the game 2-for-5, scoring one run. Evan Taylor tallied a RBI and one run on one hit. Zach Pleggenkuhle was the fifth Beaver to score a run in the contest. 
 
Starting on the mound for the Beavers was Dalton Gleen, who went eight innings, allowing nine hits and four runs. Devon VanHouten collected the win for BVU, giving up two hits in two innings on the rubber. 

The Norse saw four pitchers dawn the top of the hill, with starter Harrison Blum going 4.1 innings. Blum gave up two runs on seven hits. Will Angstman went .2 innings, allowing three hits and two runs. Carter Bratlans gave up no runs on two hits during his 2.2 innings of work. The loss went to Calvin Brinda, who tossed 1.2 innings, allowing one run on two hits. 
 
Luther’s offense, producing 11 hits, was led by Will Heithoff. The third baseman went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run. Peyton Lindmark also finished 2-for-4 while adding a run. Luke Plunkett and Mark Prince scored Luther’s two additional runs. Prince was also responsible for two RBIs.  
 
Game 8 - 4:00 p.m. - No.1 Buena Vista, 3 vs. No.6 Wartburg, 7

The final game of day two, the day’s second elimination game, saw Wartburg survive and advance. The Knights eliminated Buena Vista by virtue of a 7-3 victory. 
 
Wartburg tallied 12 hits, paced by Max Goodhue (3-for-5) and Keaton Gray (3-for-4). Goodhue drove in two runs and scored one while Gray scored two runs and drove in one. Ben DeKruyf finished 2-for-5 with two runs and William Armstrong had two RBIs and one run on one hit. Carter Stubitz scored the Knight’s seventh run of the game. 

Joey Ciero hurled seven innings for Wartburg, giving up just one run on four hits and earning the win. Aaron Eybers closed out the final two innings, allowing two runs on two hits. 

BVU’s Mark Eddie allowed five runs on nine hits in seven innings of work, picking up the loss. Michael Demers and Brayden Polzien each saw time on the mound for one inning. Demers gave up two runs on two hits while Polzien allowed just one hit. 
 
Evan Taylor and Drew Taylor both finished 2-for-3 with one run, leading the Beavers at the plate. Zach Pleggenkuhle tacked on the team’s final two hits while Joel Garcia scored the team’s third run. 
 
Saturday
Game 9 - 10:00 a.m. - No.6 Wartburg vs. No.2 Loras
Game 10 - 1:00 p.m. - No.5 Coe vs. Game 9 Winner
Game 11 - 4:00 p.m. - Game 6 Winner vs. Game 9 Winner (if necessary)
   
Don't forget to become a fan of the American Rivers Conference on Facebook @AmericanRiversConference, Twitter @AmerRiversConf, and Instagram @AmericanRiversConference.