Coyotes score eight unanswered to power by Central Christian 13-7
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Kansas Wesleyan opened the home part of their 2006 baseball season on a good note as the Coyotes knocked off Central Christian 13-7 on Tuesday night at Dean Evans Stadium.

Central Christian scored two runs in each of the first three innings to take a 6-0 lead after the visitor portion of the third. Marcus Thornton hit an inside the park homerun for the Tigers in the top of the third, as Adam Carroll lost the ball and it sailed over his head and hit the base of the left field fence.

The Coyote bats came alive in the bottom half of the frame. Sean Zuniga walked, Darell Grames hit a bunt single, the runners advanced on a wild pitch by Central’s Greg Daughtery. Matt Garretson walked, and another wild pitch by Daugherty allowed Zuniga to score. Andrew Gulla was then hit by a pitch to load the bases with no one out. Wesleyan first baseman AJ Anthony then took a 1-1 pitch and launched it over the left field fence and onto the practice field adjacent to Evan Stadium for a grand slam.

Wesleyan scored three in the bottom of the fourth to take a 8-6 lead. Gulla drove in two runs with a single and Garretson came across on an error as the throw to second hit the Central Christian shortstop who was trying to cover on the play on a steal attempt by Gulla.

Central Christian was able to get back within one in the top of the sixth as Jackson Babcock hit a grounder passed the short stop. Robert Carroll reached on a fielder’s choice, and came around to score on a single by Chris Swindell.

The Coyotes added some insurance in the bottom of the sixth as Grames scored on a wild pitch by Central’s Jacob Morales. The Coyote offense wasn’t finished producing yet, as they added four more in the bottom half of the eighth. Zuniga scored on another wild pitch, Gulla singled to drive in Garretson. Anthony drove in his fifth run of the night on a double down the left field line, and then scored on a single by Adam Carroll. Travis L’Homedieu grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Trevor Howell picked up the win for the Coyotes (6-12), only giving up one run in 2.2 innings. Daugherty took the loss for Central Christian as he allowed seven runs, all earned, on six hits in just 3.1 innings of work.

Anthony led the Coyotes with three hits, while driving in five runs. Gulla collected two hits while driving in three. Grames and David Price also had two hits each for the Coyotes.

The Coyotes are back home on Friday afternoon, as they host Oklahoma Wesleyan in a double header scheduled for a 2:00 start at Evans Stadium.

-- KWU SI --