Coyotes power past Manhattan Christian with doubleheader sweep
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Andrew Gulla drove in eight runs while homering twice in game one as Kansas Wesleyan swept Manhattan Christian, 19-3 and 9-5, on Monday night at Dean Evans Stadium.

The Crusaders scored first as Barnett doubled to lead off and then scored as Chenoweth singled to short.

Wesleyan put four on the board in the bottom of the first as Matt Garretson scored on a Gulla single, and Gulla scored on a wild pitch by Manhattan pitcher Lampe. After Travis L’Homedieu walked, Adam Carroll launched the first pitch he saw to left field.

Manhattan Christian scored two more in the top of the second as Sholin reached on an error by Coyote third baseman Carlos Sanchez. Guinty then doubled to score Sholin. Before Lewis singled home Guinty.

The Coyotes exploded for 12 runs in the bottom of the third inning. A.J. Anthony was the first to score after reaching on a fielder’s choice. L’Homedieu singled and Carroll walked to load the bases with one out. A single to left scored Anthony. Guy McGriff then singled, driving home L’Homedieu. Sanchez then drove home a pair with a single. Darell Grames singled to score McGriff. Another wild pitch by Lampe allowed the runners to move up 90 feet, before Garretson was hit by a pitch. Gulla then came up for his second at bat of the inning and took a 0-2 pitch deep to left for a Grand Slam.

The Coyotes weren’t finished as McCarter replaced Lampe for Manhattan Christian. Anthony singled past the short stop, L’Homedieu was hit by the pitch, Trevor Howell singled, driving home Anthony and McGriff doubled, scoring L’Homedieu and Howell. Sanchez ended the inning with a pop out to first.

Wesleyan added three more in the bottom of the fourth, as Gulla homered again, this time a three-run shot that hit the fence that borders the practice field adjacent to Evans Stadium beyond left field.

Kyle Kirchner pitched five innings for the complete game win, giving up three runs on six hits while striking out one and walking one. Lampe took the loss for Manhattan Christian, giving up 12 runs, all earned, on 10 hits in 2.1 innings of work.

The Coyotes used a majority of substitute players in the second game, as freshman Dane Baxa took the hill in his first collegiate start. Once again the Crusaders scored first, as Sholin singled up the middle driving home Barnett.

Guy McGriff led off the Coyote first and took the first pitch from Tatum deep to left field to tie things up at 1-all. Three batters later Brian Dobyns doubled, and Stephen Cilladi was hit by a pitch, the Coyotes looked to be ready to add more runs, but Sean Zuniga struck out to end the inning.

The Coyotes added another run in the second as Andy Brockman scored from third after Mullins’ throw from center after a pop out to left center by McGriff went flying over the head of Manhattan Christian’s catcher.

Wesleyan added two more in the third and three more in the fourth to take a 7-1 lead after five innings. Baxa gave up a run as Barnett tripled to right center and scored on a single by McGee.

The Coyotes answered back in the bottom of the inning as Josh Miller scored on a double by Trevor Howell after reaching on a fielder’s choice.

Brett Horseman entered in relief of Baxa to start the sixth. Sholin led off the inning with a single and came around to score on a single by Lampe that also drove in McCarter who had singled. Lampe then scored after a pass ball by Cilladi on a Lewis strike out. McGee then struck out to end the inning.

The Coyotes (13-22) added some insurance in the bottom of the sixth, as Brockman put down a squeeze play bunt to score Dobyns from third.

Manhattan Christian went quietly in the top of the seventh as the Coyotes held on for the 9-5 win in game two.

Dane Baxa pitched five innings for the win, his first win at the college level in his first collegiate start. Baxa allowed just two runs on six hits, while striking out four and walking two. Horseman pitched two innings, giving up three runs on three hits, only two earned while also striking out four and walking only one.

Tatum took the loss for Manhattan Christian (3-19), giving up eight runs on 12 hits, all earned, while striking out three and walking one in five innings of work.

The Coyotes return to KCAC play on Wednesday, hosting Sterling College in a 4:00 doubleheader at Dean Evans Stadium.

-- KWU SI --