Metro Sports Report

Kirkwood softball team stays alive

CLINTON, Miss. - The Kirkwood softball team is still hoping to win the NJCAA Division II national title, but the Eagles will have to come through the loser's bracket to get it done.

Kirkwood lost to Johnson County Community College, 1-0, in the second round of the tournament Thursday afternoon, then bounced back with a 5-3 victory over Macomb in the loser's bracket Thursday night.

Kirkwood (47-9) will face Labette Friday at noon in the double-elimination tournament. Eight teams are still competing for the title, with four in the winner's bracket and four in the loser's bracket.

In the first game Thursday, Johnson County's Sydney Koch tossed a four-hit shutout at the Eagles, a team averaging just under 10 runs a game. Nicki Simpson and Allie Mengler matched Koch's effort until the top of the seventh.

Coe plans new $20 million sports facilities

Coe College plans to build a new gymnasium as part of an estimated $20 million facelift for its athletic facilities, multiple sources have told the Metro Sports Report.

The new "Performance Gymnasium" would be the major piece of the athletic and recreation project, which also would include a new wrestling practice room, a fitness area, new locker rooms, offices and a training room.

An architect's rendition of the project is on display on campus in the Nassif House, where the admissions office is located.

KCC softball wins on Simpson's 1-hitter

CLINTON, Miss. - Nicky Simpson tossed a one-hitter Wednesday as the Kirkwood Eagles trimmed Mercyhurst North East, 3-2, in the opening round of the NJCAA Division II national softball tournament in Clinton, Miss.

Kirkwood (45-8) will face Johnson County Community College in the quarterfinals of the winners bracket Thursday afternoon.

Simpson (20-5) took a shutout into the seventh inning. Mercyhurst scored both of its runs on a dropped fly ball.

Chasney Jenkins drove in two runs for the Eagles, who are seeded No. 3 in the 16-team tournament. Erin Weno collected an RBI. Jasmine Ragusi had a double.

DMACC blanked Surry, 5-0, in the opening round. Johnson County trimmed Illinois Central, 3-1.

Coe tops St. John's in NCAA tourney

LA CROSSE, Wis. - The Coe College baseball team got strong pitching Wednesday morning and clipped St. John's of Minnesota, 4-2, in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional tournament in La Crosse, Wis.

Connor Alberhasky (5-4) allowed only one earned run in seven innings and got the victory. Jack Hoffmann, one of the stars for Coe in the Iowa Conference tournament last weekend, tossed two innings of shutout ball for the save.

Coe (32-12) will face Ripon (24-14) in the second round Thursday at 4:30 p.m. The Kohawks anticipated meeting Wisconsin-Whitewater in the second round, but Ripon stunned Whitewater 15-7 Wednesday and dropped the No. 1 seed and 2014 national champs into the losers bracket.