Coyotes salvage split with Friends on Wednesday
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Guy McGriff pitches during game two of the Coyotes doubleheader with Friends on Wednesday.

Kansas Wesleyan ended their five game losing streak salvaging the second game of a Kansas Conference doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon at Dean Evans Stadium. Friends won game one 8-4, and the Coyotes captured the nightcap, winning 8-7.

Friends took the early lead in the first game, as Seth Beason singled and later scored on a hit by A.J. Loyd.

The Falcons added two more in the top half of the second, as Joe McCray scored on a sacrifice by Zadoc Christensen and Brandon Johnson scored when Guy McGriff’s throw was off to first allowing Beason to reach.

Wesleyan got on the board in the third as A.J. Anthony singled up the middle driving home Matt Garretson who had doubled earlier in the inning. The Coyotes had a chance to add more runs in the frame, but Brian Dobyns, who had come on to play left field for Adam Carroll struck out to end the inning.

Friends scored four in the top half of the fourth as Christensen singled and Johnson reached on another error by McGriff. Christensen then scored on a Beason single. During the next at bat, Anthony was called for a balk allowing Johnson to score. Ryan Pinkall then came up and slammed a two-run homer to left. Aaron Lechein then grounded out and Joel Bogucki flew out to center to end the inning.

The Coyotes added another in the fifth as Darell Grames scored on a single by Anthony, but Dobyns hit into a fielder’s choice as Anthony was forced at second to end the inning.

After a quiet sixth, Friends added some insurance in the seventh as Bogucki doubled to start the inning and came around to score on a hit by Christensen.

The Coyotes didn’t go away quietly, scoring a pair on a two-run homer by Anthony with two out. Travis L’Homedieu then grounded out to the pitcher to end the first game.

Ben Haskell went the distance for Friends for the win, giving up four runs on nine hits, all earned. He also struck out and walked two. Anthony took the loss for the Coyotes, going the distance, giving up eight runs on 15 hits, only four earned. He struck out three and walked only one.

The Coyotes jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the second inning thanks to a monstrous grand slam by Carlos Sanchez to left field. Adam Carroll reached on a fielder’s choice, David Price walked and Andy Brockman reached on another fielder’s choice to set up the slam by Sanchez. Grames then grounded out to second to end the inning.

Both teams scored a run in the third, as Chris Eddy scored on a Pinkall walk for Friends and Andrew Gulla scored on a double steal for the Coyotes in the bottom half.

Friends scored one more in the top of the fourth, but Wesleyan pulled away with three in the bottom half of the inning as the Coyotes used three singles by Grames, Gulla and Anthony to drive in the runs.

The Falcons made one final run at the Coyotes, scoring a run in the top of the sixth on a double by Beason, and then put four runs on the board in the top half of the seventh. Lechein walked, and Loyd hit a two-run shot. Bogucki reached on a error by Brockman, then was put out on a double play attempt, but Brockman again errored allowing Zumwalt to reach and move to second. KWU pitcher Rob Ozga then threw a wild pitch allowing Zumwalt to score, and Eddy scored on a Johnson single. Seth Beason then flew out to right center to end the game.

Rob Ozga held on for the win for the Coyotes, as he pitched 4.2 innings in relief for the Coyotes. Ozga relieved Trevor Howell, who relieved Guy McGriff who left after suffering a shoulder injury in the top of the third. Ozga gave up six runs on eight hits, only four earned while walking three and striking out two. Matt Braumberger took the loss for Friends giving up five runs on only three hits, while walking three in just two innings of work.

The Coyotes (11-22, 3-7) continue their long home stand with a double header against Manhattan Christian on Monday at 4:00. The Coyotes then host Sterling on Wednesday at 4:00, before hosting Mid-America Christian on Thursday at 2:00.

-- KWU SI --