Coyotes advance to baseball tournament championship
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

HUTCHINSON -- Kansas Wesleyan scored three runs in the first inning and held on for a 4-3 win over Saint Mary in the semifinals of the KCAC Post-Season Baseball Tournament at Hobart-Detter Field on Thursday.

Matt Garretson walked and would later score on the first of back-to-back-to-back doubles by the Coyotes. Carlos Sanchez hit the first scoring Garretson, followed by Andrew Masojc, scoring Sanchez and Guy McGriff continued his recent offensive tear with a two-bagger scoring Masojc.

Saint Mary got on the board in the top of the third, leading off the inning with back to back singles by Morgan Johann and Cody Newman. After a fly out, Hogan Matson singled to load the bases, and Glen Aveson would walk forcing home the Spires’ first run. After a strikeout by Justin Sumner, Lucas Williamson would single scoring Newman.

The Spires would add another in their half of the fourth to tie things up when Newman would hit a two-out triple and would score on a double by Matson.

Wesleyan (26-24) would answer in the bottom half of the inning. Ronny Romo led off the frame with a single, and the Coyotes would load the bases after an error and a fielder’s choice. Garretson would ground into a 5-2-3 double play, but back-to-back walks by Stephen Cilladi and Sanchez would drive in what would turn out to be the game winning run.

Saint Mary (19-22-1) had a chance to take the lead back in the top of the fifth, but could get no runs across. Sumner would reach on an error to lead off, before the Coyotes would turn to their bullpen and Shaun Sumter. Williamson would sacrifice bunt moving up Sumner, before the Coyotes used a 9-6-4 double play to end the inning.

Andrew Masojc pitched the seventh for the save for the Coyotes, who advance to tomorrow’s tournament championship against the winner of Saint Mary and Ottawa.

Starter Greg Byron got the win for Wesleyan, throwing four-plus innings, giving up three runs on eight hits while walking four and striking out four. Sumter threw two innings, giving up one hit before giving way to Masojc in the seventh. Romo led the Coyotes with three hits, while Masojc added a pair. Sanchez drove in two runs for the Coyotes.

Derek Allison went the distance for the Spires, giving up four runs on eight hits while striking out seven and walking six. Johann had three hits to lead Saint Mary, while Newman and Matson had two hits each as the Spires banged out ten hits on the afternoon.

-- KWU SI --