CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa-- Senior Jacob Thumann (DeWitt) became the career program leader in home runs in the 18-6 and 12-3 sweep over Coe Tuesday. Thumann broke the old mark of 28 set by Wartburg Athletics Hall of Fame member, Matt Thede, in 2001. "I've tried to not focus on the record throughout the season, and Coach Holst knew that," said Thumann. "From what I've heard through the little bit that Coach Holst and the other assistant coaches had told me, Matt was quite the player to watch hit the ball, and a great catcher as well. To break a record held by such an talented player is truly an honor.

"Yes, at the beginning of this season, breaking the home run record was a personal goal of mine;  I'm very goal oriented," he continued. "Most of my goals for this season were based around team performance, and being the best player I could be to help my team reach our goals. Our goals are to win a conference regular season championship, tournament championship, regional championship, and get over that hump to reach the College World Series. Anything I can do to help my team accomplish these goals is how I approached my final season. In terms of my personal goals, I said from the beginning of the season I was going to do whatever it took to become an All-American."

The Knights won the first game in eight innings and moved their winning streak to five. This was the first part of the conference series as the teams will play the single nine-inning game next Tuesday at Hertel Field.

The Orange and Black plated five runs in their first at-bats to take the early lead. Wartburg had another big inning in the fourth as it plated another five runs, which included a two-run triple from junior Eric Willis (Waverly). Interestingly, the Knights recorded a single, double and triple in consecutive order.

The Kohawks scored two in the first and used a four-run fifth inning, thanks in part to a three-run home run to make it 15-6 in favor of the visitors. The Orange and Black tallied three in the eighth and Coe was unable to answer in the bottom of the frame to seal the run-rule win.

Junior Cody Hyler (Des Moines) went 4-5 with three RBIs and was a home run shy of the cycle. Willis was 3-5 with three RBIs and also the home run shy of the cycle.

The second game of the twinbill began similar to the first as Wartburg took the early 5-0 lead in the first. The Kohawks scored two in the inning, but the Knights responded with three in the second and two in the third to make it 10-2. The two runs in the third were the result of Thumann's record-breaking home run.

"As far as the at-bat I believe I worked it to a full count before I hit it," said Thumann. " Not exactly a home run count, but it worked out! Coe had been shifting their defense to the left on me all game and I honestly was focused on hitting the ball to the opposite field, but their pitcher fortunately ended up leaving a fast ball over the plate a little too much. I don't really like to watch the ball too much, but I knew pretty much right a way that it was going to go, so I decided to enjoy this one for a little bit. After that, rounding the bases was pretty much a blur."

Coe scored its final run of the day in the sixth and the Orange and Black plated their final two runs in the seventh on back-to-back RBI doubles from junior Blake Mahoney (Des Moines) and Thumann which made it 12-3.

Senior Mike Brown (Bettendorf) went 3-3 with three RBIs and Mahoney was 3-5.

Wartburg takes to the road this weekend for a conference series at Central.

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