Baseball goes 2-3 during Spring Break trip
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Kansas Wesleyan’s baseball team went 2-3 in its five games over Spring Break in Texas last week.

The Coyotes played Lubbock Christian (Texas), Texas-Permian Basin, and a three game series with Wayland Baptist (Texas).

Lubbock Christian 15, KWU 1 – The trip did not start out well for the Coyotes, dropping the first game to Lubbock Christian 15-1. The Chaparrals exploded for six runs in the third inning, including a two-run single by Clay Britton and a three-run homer by Robbie Winn, who knocked in five runs on the day. The Chaps would add three more runs in the fourth, and five more in the sixth to pull away.

The Coyotes lone run would come in the top of the ninth, as Dusty Romero would knock home Paul Bridenbaugh. Andrew Masojc would lead the Coyotes with three hits.

KWU 9, UT-Permian Basin 3 – The Coyotes picked things up on Wednesday against Texas-Permian Basin. After falling behind 3-1 after three innings, the Coyotes added a tally in the fifth, and four runs in the sixth to pull out to a 6-3 lead. Wesleyan would then add one run in each of the last three frames for the win.

Wesleyan would capitalize on seven Falcon errors. Masojc would lead Wesleyan with three hits, including a double, while Romero would have two hits, both doubles and Stephen Cilladi would also add two hits. Bridenbaugh would drive in three runs for the Coyotes.

Casey Barnes picked up the win in six innings of work, while Chris Bruno took the loss for UTPB.

KWU 3, Wayland Baptist 2 – Greg Byron scattered four hits over six innings, and Andrew Masojc pitched a one-hit seventh for the save as the Coyotes got a 3-2 win in the first game of a Friday doubleheader over Wayland Baptist.

Romero had two hits to lead the Coyotes, while Chad Peterson scored twice, including the game-winning run on a Romero single in the seventh.

Both teams would score one in the first, before Wayland would grab the lead in the third. The Coyotes would tie things up in the fifth when Peterson would score on a passed ball.

Byron grabbed the win for the Coyotes, while Darren Davis took the loss for the Pioneers.

Wayland Baptist 1, KWU 0 – The Coyotes would drop a tight contest to the Pioneers in the second game of the Friday doubleheader. Brett Cook would double with two outs in the Wayland half of the sixth and would score on an error by Wesleyan right fielder Guy McGriff.

The Coyotes had a chance in the fourth to score, but Bridenbaugh would strike out with runners on second and third to end the inning.

Matt Garretson would lead the Coyotes with two hits, while Cook would have three hits for Wayland.

Kade McAllister would take the loss for the Coyotes going five and two-thirds, giving up one unearned run on five hits, before giving way to Shaun Sumter to record the final out in the sixth. Gary Gates would throw a six-hit shutout for the Pioneers.

Wayland Baptist 17, KWU 6 – Garretson would have three hits including a homer in the first, but it wasn’t enough as the Coyotes fell 17-6 to Wayland Baptist in the final game of the three game series between the teams.

The Coyotes trailed 4-3 after five innings before the Pioneers would add seven runs in the sixth and end the game in the seventh on the run rule after posting six runs in the frame.

The Coyotes were able to add three runs in the top of the seventh as Peterson singled home McGriff who led off the inning with a walk. Cilladi would then double home two more Coyotes.

Stephen Anderson would get the win for Wayland, while Bryan Dobyns would take the loss in five innings of work.

The Coyotes (8-18, 2-4) return to action on Wednesday as they host Saint Mary in a 4:00 PM doubleheader at Evans Stadium.

-- KWU SI --