Bellevue knocks out Coyotes 13-1
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

HUTCHINSON – Bellevue advanced into the NAIA Region IV Baseball Tournament semifinals with a 13-1 rout of the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes on Friday afternoon at Hobart-Detter Field.

The loss ends Wesleyan’s season at 31-17, while Bellevue improves to 47-13.

Brandon Mathes singled with one out in the first, but was caught stealing before Mike Pettibone grounded out to end the first.

Bellevue posted two runs in the first when Josh Northrup reached on an error by Dan Herrle at shortstop and Drew Farley with a towering two-run shot to right to put the Bruins up 2-0.

Wesleyan had a chance in the second to get a run across when Brock Pettyjohn singled with one out, and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. After David Lovett struck out, Dusty Romero singled to put runners on the corners with two outs. Romero stole second, but Herrle struck out to end the inning.

Andy Brown homered on the first pitch of the Bellevue second to make it 3-0.

Bellevue added six in the third to blow the game wide open. Nick Damas led off the inning with a single, followed by a Northrup hit and a RBI double by Farley. Matt Anderson was hit by a pitch followed by a walk to Brown. Zachery then hit a bunt single to the infield to score Farley. Lee then hit a sac bunt to score Anderson which was followed by a three run homer to left, which chased Mathes from the mound, replaced by Brian Dobyns.

Both teams were held off the board until the eighth when the Coyotes posted their only run of the day, followed by four runs by the Bruins in the bottom half of the inning. Romero doubled to lead off the inning and later scored when Romero grounded out to short. Grames then reached on an error before Mathes would foul out to right to end the inning.

Bellevue added four more in the eighth, all coming with two outs. Pinch hitter Ross Jones grounded out to start the inning, followed by a walk to Mike Pratt. Tuckett Slade then pinch hit and flew out to left. Adam Shupe then pinch hit and reached on an error by the second baseman Romero, and pinch runner Love then scored when Romero committed his second error on the play. Shupe moved to third on a wild pitch, followed by a walk to Northrup, which Farley followed with a three-run shot. Hamsa then flew out to end the inning.

Mathes took the loss for Wesleyan, giving up nine runs on seven hits while walking three and striking out one. Dobyns was the most effective for the Coyotes, pitching 4.1 innings, allowing just one hit while striking out three. Nick Allaire pitched the eighth, giving up four runs, none of them earned, on one hit while walking two. Skeete and Romero led the Coyotes offensively with two hits each.

Brett Scarpetta went the distance for the Bruins, giving up one run on six hits, while striking out ten and walking none. Farley went 3-for-4 with six RBIs to lead Bellevue offensively, as he was the only Bruin with more than one hit.

Bellevue advances to the night cap game tonight, facing the Bethany Swedes who lost to Park 9-4 in the game that followed the Wesleyan vs. Bellevue game.

-- NAIA IV --