Coyotes and Saint Mary split season ending series
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Kansas Wesleyan and Saint Mary split the two games in Wesleyan’s regular season finale on Saturday at Dean Evans Stadium. The Spires captured game one 7-4 and the Coyotes rallied in the night cap winning 6-4.

Cody Newman would hit a sacrifice fly for Saint Mary in the top of the first to score Morgan Johann giving the Spires a 1-0 lead after a half inning.

Wesleyan responded in the bottom half of the frame using back to back singles by Dustin Romero and Matt Garretson and a walk by Stephen Cilladi to load the bases with no one out. Carlos Sanchez would then ground into a fielder’s choice, scoring Romero and Andrew Masojc would sacrifice home Garretson giving the Coyotes a 2-1 lead after one.

Saint Mary would take a 3-2 lead in the third, thanks in part to two Wesleyan errors. Brandon Flood would double with one out, and then would advance to third when shortstop Paul Bridenbaugh would miss a pick off attempt and then would score on a single by Johann.

Wesleyan would tie things up in the bottom half of the inning when Brandon Cole would score courtesy running for Stephen Cilladi who led off the frame with a single. Cole would come home on a single by Chad Peterson.

Saint Mary would add three runs in the top of the fifth to take a 6-3 lead. Johann and Newman led off the frame off with back to back singles and Colin Aldrich would move the runners over with a sacrifice bunt. Wesleyan then turned to its bullpen, bringing in Shaun Sumter to replace Greg Byron. Hogan Matson would sacrifice home Johann before Ben Fleming would single home pinch runner VJ Winkert. After a passed ball, Sumner would single home Fleming before being called out trying to stretch his single into a double.

The Spires would add a little insurance in the sixth with a run when Flood scored on a wild pitch after tripling.

Wesleyan would add a tally in the bottom half of the sixth when Carlos Sanchez singled, scoring Romero to get the Coyotes within three at 7-4.

Jeff Cook got the win for Saint Mary pitching 2.2 innings giving up one run on four hits. Johann led the Spires with three hits and scored three runs. Newman and Sumner each drove in two.

Sumter took the loss for the Coyotes in 2.2 innings of relief, giving up two runs on three hits. Starter Greg Byron went 4.1 innings, striking out four and walking two.

The Coyotes would put four runs on the board in the bottom of the first of game two after Saint Mary scored one in the top to take a 4-1 lead.

After Romero led off being hit, Garretson walked, and then Stephen Cilladi launched a three-run homer to left. Sanchez followed Cilladi’s bomb with a double and would score on a sacrifice by Guy McGriff. Andrew Masojc singled, forcing a pitching change by Saint Mary.  

The Spires scored a run in the fourth when Matt Parmalee hit a sacrifice that scored Glen Aveson. Wesleyan added a pair in the bottom of the frame when Masojc reached on a bunt single and would later score on a Bridenbaugh single. Garretson would then single home Bridenbaugh.

Saint Mary made things interesting in the fifth scoring a pair thanks to two Coyote errors. Newman reached on a error by Masojc and Hogan Matson would reach on a wild throw by relief pitcher Toby Wright on a bunt. Winkert would score after coming in to run for Newman as would Colin Aldrich who had reached on a double. Matson then was picked off on a steal attempt and Aveson grounded out to short to end the inning.

After a scoreless sixth for both teams, Masojc moved to the mound for the save attempt in the top of the seventh. Newman and Aldrich both grounded out to third and Matson would ground out to short giving the Coyotes the 6-4 win.

Starter Brian Dobyns got the win for the Coyotes pitching three-plus innings giving up two runs on six hits while striking out two and walking two. Masojc pitched a 1-2-3 seventh for the save. Masojc and Kenney both had two hits to lead the Coyotes, while Cilladi drove in three with his first inning homer, his first of the season.

Brandon Dye took the loss for Saint Mary, only pitching one third of an inning, but facing six batters, giving up four runs on three hits. Johann, Aldrich and Matson each had two hits for the Spires and Aldrich and Parmalee had an RBI each.

The Coyotes finish the regular season 24-24 overall and 15-9 in the KCAC and will most likely be the number one seed in the KCAC Post Season Tournament as regular season champion Bethany and regular season runner-up Friends receive automatic bids to NAIA Regionals, and do not play in the tournament.

Saint Mary is 17-21-1 with one game remaining, a halted game from earlier in the week against Ottawa, with Saint Mary leading 8-3 in the third inning. The Spires and Braves will finish the game on Sunday afternoon.

-- KWU SI --