DECORAH - Jack Hoffmann pitched five strong innings in relief Friday to help Coe trim Luther, 6-4, in the second game of an Iowa Conference doubleheader in Decorah.

Luther won the first game, 5-3.

Hoffmann began the second game as the designated hitter, but he took the mound in the bottom of the third inning with the Kohawks clinging to a 2-1 lead. He pitched five straight shutout innings and left the game after the seventh inning with Coe holding a 3-1 lead.

Hoffmann (3-1) allowed only three hits with one strikeout and no walks.

The Kohawks scored three runs in the top of the ninth for a 6-1 lead. Luther responded with three runs in the bottom of the ninth, but Coe relief pitcher Tony Becker got the final out to end the game.

Grant Henning drove in three runs for Coe in the victory. Hoffmann helped his own cause with two RBIs. Alec Zwanziger had two hits.

Connor Alberhasky, who pitched a no-hitter for the Kohawks in his last outing, suffered the loss in the first game Friday. Alberhasky (2-2) was touched for eight hits and five runs (four earned) in six innings.

Michael Redmond and Alec Zwanziger had two hits for Coe in the first game. Zwanziger drove in two runs.

The split left Coe at 12-8 overall and 5-7 in the conference. Luther is 9-9 overall and 4-4.

The Kohawks and Norse are scheduled for another twinbill in Decorah Saturday afternoon.

Game 1

Coe         010 011 0 - 3 7 2
Luther     020 021 x - 5 8 1

Alberhasky and Henning. Peterson, Lowe (6) and Knippenberg. W - Peterson (3-1). L - Alberhasky (2-2). S - Lowe (2).

Game 2

Coe         002 000 103 - 6 9 1
Luther     100 000 003 - 4 9 3

Kragenbrink, Hoffmann (3), Becker (8) and Henning. Beckman, Whitham (9), Withers (9) and Hendrikson. W - Hoffmann (3-1). L - Beckman (1-2). S - Becker.