Ottawa steals pair from Coyotes on Saturday
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

A.J. Anthony singles to right field during game one of the Coyotes' doubleheader with Ottawa on Saturday.

Kansas Wesleyan had two homeruns from Andrew Gulla and Travis L’Homedieu in the bottom of the third of game one, but it wasn’t enough as the Coyotes fell to Ottawa 9-7 in game one, and 7-5 in game two on Saturday afternoon at Dean Evans Stadium.

Ottawa scored three runs in the top of the first, as Neil Moore hit a homerun off of Wesleyan starter Trevor Howell. Jim Summers singled and moved to third after Gulla made an errant throw to second as Summers was trying to steal. Birch Roybal was then hit by a Howell pitch, and Hunter Noe singled, driving home Summers and Roybal.

The Coyotes answered with two of their own in the bottom of the inning, as Gulla drove home Matt Garretson on a double, and Gulla scored on a wild pitch by Ottawa’s Brian Wood.

Ottawa added another pair in the top of the third on a two-run homer by Roybal. The Coyotes evened things up at 5-all in the bottom of the frame, on Gulla’s lead off homer and the two-run bomb by L’Homedieu, which hit the scoreboard in left field.

Ottawa added a single run in the fourth, and then put three more on the board in the fifth. Roybal singled to get things started. After Travis Persinger reached on a fielder’s choice Summers came around to score on a hit by Noe. Tyler Lynnes then reached on an error by Matt Garretson as Roybal scored, and Persinger scored on a fielder’s choice by Troy VanHorn, before pinch-hitter Jon Holzer struck out to end the inning.

The Coyotes appeared to be mounting a rally as Sanchez singled to start off the inning, and Darell Grames reached on a fielder’s choice. Grames then moved to third on a single by Garretson and came around to score on a Gulla single. Garretson then scored on a single by A.J. Anthony. L’Homedieu then popped out to second, and Brian Dobyns struck out ending the inning.

Howell took the loss for the Coyotes, pitching four innings, giving up six runs on five hits, while striking out two and walking two. Rob Ozga relieved Howell at the start of the fifth, and gave up three runs, only one earned, on two hits, while striking out three and walking one. Brian Woods grabbed the win for the Braves, pitching five innings, giving up five runs on eight hits while striking out four and walking two.

Ottawa scored one in the top of the first as Aaron Klossen scored on a Roybal single, but the Braves threat ended as Persinger grounded into a 5-4-3 double play.

Grames reached on a bunt single to lead off the Coyote first and came around to score on a wild pitch by James Riccomini. Guy McGriff then scored on a ground out by Gulla to short.

The Coyotes extended their lead with a run in the second and third inning to take a 4-1 lead through three innings.

Ottawa’s bats came alive in the top half of the fourth, as Noe singled and came around to score along with Lynnes as Ottawa strung together five straight singles before Klossen grounded into a 6-3 double play driving home Klaus.

The Coyotes tied things up in the fifth as McGriff scored on a hit by L’Homedieu. The Coyotes appeared to be in position to score a couple more runs with the bases loaded, but Howell grounded to third and L’Homedieu was forced out at third to end the inning.

The Coyotes tried to pull ahead again in the sixth, as Adam Carroll singled and Grames walked. McGriff then singled on a rocket to the short stop, but Carroll was forced out trying to make it to third as he thought Ottawa’s Tyler Lynnes had made the catch. Anthony then popped out to second to end the inning.

Wesleyan made quick work of Ottawa in the seventh. After Noe reached on an error by Sean Zuniga, and Lynnes singled, VanHorn grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.

L’Homedieu singled in the Coyote seventh and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Dobyns. The Coyotes couldn’t score as Howell then popped out in foul territory outside of third and then Sanchez grounded out to third.

Moore singled to left to start the Ottawa eighth, and moved to second on a stolen base. Klossen then hit a home run to left giving Ottawa the 7-5 lead. Summers followed the homer with a double, but Roybal grounded out to third and Persinger lined out to center to end Ottawa’s scoring threat.

David Price then pinch hit for Zuniga to lead off the Coyote eighth, but ground out to third. Grames ground out to the pitcher, before Gulla flew out to left to end the game.

Garretson took the loss in game two, going the entire eight innings, giving up the seven runs on 16 hits, while walking none and striking out none. Jim Summers picked up the win in relief for Ottawa (23-13, 9-3), pitching 3.2 innings, allowing only four hits and walking two.

Gulla had six hits on the day for the Coyotes (10-21, 2-6) and drove in five. L’Homedieu added five hits and drove in three for Wesleyan.

The Coyotes next action is Wednesday at home against Friends University. First pitch in the doubleheader is scheduled for 4:00 at Evans Stadium.

-- KWU SI --