Sterling sweeps Coyotes to end long home stand
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

The Coyotes started the home portion of their 2006 schedule back in March on a good note, winning their first three games. However, home hasn’t been so friendly for the Coyotes as of late, as they finished a five-date, ten-game home stand with a 3-7 record as Kansas Wesleyan was swept by Sterling, 6-5 and 8-6, on a perfect Wednesday evening for baseball at Dean Evans Stadium.

It wasn’t that the Coyotes had their chances to win both games. Stranded runners seemed to be the big issue of the night. In game one, the Coyotes left 14 men on, and nine in the second game – more than enough to pull out wins.

Wesleyan had to play catch-up in both games. Sterling jumped out to 2-0 leads after the visitor first in both games.

In game one, Matt Elliott doubled and came around to score on another double by Matt Garcia, as did Jeremiah Valenzuela who was hit by a pitch in his first at bat.

The Coyotes cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second as David Price scored on a Carlos Sanchez single through the hole at short.

Sterling put four big runs on the board in the top of the third. Matt Meredith struck out to start the inning. Elliott then singled and stole second. Valenzuela reached on an error by Matt Garretson, and both came around to score on a single by Garcia, who drove in four runs in game one. Jamie Hernandez doubled, and Luke Orr drove home Garcia and Hernandez before Adam Castillo struck out and Derek Serrato popped out to right to end the inning.

Wesleyan added a single run in the bottom of the third, as AJ Anthony scored on a error by Hernandez after reaching on a fielder’s choice.

After a quiet fourth, Wesleyan made a run at the Warriors, but couldn’t close the gap. Travis L’Homedieu reached on an error by Serrato, and then David Price cranked a two-run shot to left field. Three batters later, Darell Grames walked, but was left on base as Garretson grounded out to third.

Gulla opened the home sixth with a solo shot on the first pitch. Anthony grounded out to third before Adam Carroll reached on a walk. L’Homedieu struck out followed by a Price single, but the Coyotes again left two on base as McGriff grounded into a fielder’s choice as Price was put out 4-6 to end the inning.

The Coyotes left two again in the seventh as Garretson doubled, and Gulla was intentionally walked. Anthony then flew out to the warning track in front of the scoreboard in left field to end the inning.

Matt Garcia got the win for Sterling, going 4.2 innings, giving up four runs on nine hits while striking out three and walking two. Joel Graf came in for the save, pitching 2.1 innings giving up only one run on three hits, while striking out and walking two. AJ Anthony took the loss for the Coyotes, giving up all six Sterling runs on six hits, while strking out four and walking none in three innings of work. Trevor Howell and Rob Ozga combined to only allow one more Sterling hit for the game. Howell walked three and struck out four.

Both teams matched each others’ run totals for the first three innings of game two.

Luke Orr singled home Elliott and Valenzuela in the top of the first in to put Sterling up early. Wesleyan responded as Grames and Guy McGriff scored on a Anthony double.

Valenzuela was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the second to drive home Matt Strickland. The Sterling scoring threat was ended quickly as Wesleyan catcher Andrew Gulla turned a 2-3 double play to end the inning.

Gulla then flashed his bat in the bottom half of the inning as he singled home Sean Zuniga. The Coyotes again left two runners aboard as Anthony flied out to left-center to end the inning.

Luke Orr scored the Warrior run in the third on a single by Strickland, but Meredith struck out to end the inning. Wesleyan answered the Sterling run in the third as Adam Carroll scored as the result of an error by Valenzuela’s throwing error from short.

Sterling pulled ahead with an unmatched run in the top of the fourth and added two more in the fifth. Wesleyan got back within one with two of their own in the bottom of the fifth as Price homered, and Zuniga doubled, scoring Sanchez. The Coyotes looked to be making a run, but after Grames was hit by a pitch, McGriff hit into another fielder’s choice to end the inning.

Sanchez committed an error with two outs in the top of the sixth allowing Hernandez to get on base, and later score on a double by Luke Orr. Joel Orr popped out to first to end the inning for Sterling.

The Coyotes went quietly in the sixth thanks to a 1-6-3 double play and a strike out, but Sterling was unable to produce in the top of the seventh, opening the door for Wesleyan. Carroll singled to lead off, but pop outs by Price and Sanchez saw Zuniga come to the plate representing the tying run. Zuniga then grounded out to short to end the game.

Matt Garretson took the loss for the Coyotes, going the distance, throwing 139 pitches, giving up eight runs, six earned on 12 hits, while striking out six and walking two. Bryce Knowlton got the win for Sterling, pitching five innings, giving up six runs on ten hits, five earned, while striking out five and walking just one. Joel Graf picked up a second save on the night, pitching two innings and giving up only one hit, and striking out one.

The Coyotes are back in action on the road on Saturday at Saint Mary, and Monday at Bethany. The Monday doubleheader with Bethany is a make-up from a March 18 rain-out. The Coyotes then play their final home doubleheader of the season on Wednesday as they host the same Bethany Swedes at 4:00 at Evans Stadium.

-- KWU SI --