Coyotes fall to Swedes in home finale
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

It wasn’t a good day for the Coyotes in their home finale of the 2006 season. Bethany came to town and swept Kansas Wesleyan for the second time in three days, 12-4 and 15-0, on Wednesday evening at Dean Evans Stadium.

Bethany scored in every inning of the doubleheader, except the first inning of game two. Overall the Swedes outscored the Coyotes 27-4, and out hit Wesleyan 27-13.

Bethany scored two in the first of game one as Keenan Dukes reached on an error by pitcher Brian Dobyns. Charles Brown scored on a failed pick off attempt of Dukes, and after a walk by Chris Green, Ben Schmidt doubled to left scoring Dukes. Dobyns calmed down and struck out Brent Basiattes and Shawn Ravenscraft to end the inning.

After Bethany put another tally on the board in the second, the Coyotes tied things up in the bottom half of the inning. AJ Anthony led off with a double, and came around to score on a hit by Guy McGriff. David Price struck out, but Carlos Sanchez followed with a two-run bomb to right center. Trevor Howell grounded out to end the inning.

Wesleyan went quietly in the third after Bethany regained the lead as Terrell Lowery scored after courtesy running for catcher Chris Green on a passed ball by Wesleyan catcher Andrew Gulla.

Bethany pulled away with three runs in the top of the fourth. Andy Spirek doubled to left center, and scored on an error by Carlos Sanchez. Green then singled with the bases loaded scoring two, but Basiattes grounded into a 5-3 double play to end the inning.

The Coyotes scored a single run in the fourth as Anthony scored as McGriff grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, after doubling to start the inning.

Bethany added single runs in the fifth on a homer by Ravenscraft and on an error by Anthony in the sixth on a ball by Spirek, scoring Steve Young, who was running for Wardein.

Bethany added three more in the top of the seventh as Wardein singled to right scoring Brown, and Schmidt sacrified home Dukes, and Kuhl flew out to left, allowing Wardein to score. Lowery was then thrown out trying to go to third on the play.

The Coyotes were unable to do anything in the bottom of the seventh giving Bethany the 12-4 win. Dobyns took the loss for the Coyotes, pitching five innings plus, giving up nine runs on 12 hits, while walking and striking out four. Rob Heggen got the win for Bethany going the distance, giving up four runs, three earned, striking out eight and walking just one.

Bethany went quickly in the top of the first of game two. Brown popped out to second, and Dukes grounded out to short. The Swedes appeared to be ready to score as Wardein singled and Green doubled, but Schmidt grounded out to keep Bethany off the board.

Bethany then put together their two big innings, putting a pair of 6’s on the scoreboard in the second and third innings.

Ravenscraft and Kuhl scored after opening the frame with walks, and back-to-back hit batters by pitcher Matt Garretson forced home Spirek, who had also been hit. Trease then scored on a fly out by Wardein, Green hit a sacrifice scoring Brown and Dukes scored on a single by Schmidt.

The Swedes then used back-to-back homers in the third as part of their six-run inning. Wardein launched a three-run bomb to deep center, and Green followed with a shot to left. Ravenscraft grounded out to short to end the inning for Bethany.

Dukes doubled home Spirek in the fourth as Bethany added another in the frame.

The Coyotes had their best chances to score in the third and fourth, but stranded runners in both innings.

Bethany added two more in the top of the fifth as Schmidt hit a two-run homer.

The Coyotes could not get any runs on the board as they went quickly and quietly in the fifth, as the game was called after five innings on the run rule.

Garretson took the loss for the Coyotes (14-29, 4-14) giving up eight runs on five hits, while walking three in 2.1 innings of work. Nick Miles got the win for Bethany (34-11, 13-7) giving up just four hits in four innings of work, while striking out four. Ryan O’Keefe pitched the fifth for the Swedes, walking one.

KWU wraps up the season with road contests at Friends on Saturday, at Ottawa a week from tonight, at Tabor on April 29, and at Kansas State on May 2.

-- KWU SI --