Coyotes rout Central Christian, blank Hastings in Triangular
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Brian Dobyns rounds third on his way to score during Wesleyan's 7-0 win over Hastings

Kansas Wesleyan opened the home portion of its baseball schedule with two big wins in Saturday’s triangular event with Central Christian (Kan.) and Hastings (Neb.) at James Matson Field. The Coyotes routed Central 19-3 in the first game and blanked Hastings 7-0 in the night cap.

KANSAS WESLEYAN 19, CENTRAL CHRISTIAN 3 – Kansas Wesleyan scored five runs in the first inning and eight more in the second to cruise to a run-rule shortened 19-3 win over Central Christian.

Darell Grames led off the Coyote half of the first with a double and Brandon Mathes plated Grames and himself on a two-run shot to make it 2-0. Mike Pettibone reached on an error and after a Russell Skeete single, Ronny Romo’s double drove in the two base runners. Romo would later score on a Paul Bridenbaugh single, but Bridenbaugh was out at second trying to stretch the hit into a double.

Adam Spinder homered to lead off the second for Central Christian, but the Tigers could not get the offense going after that as a fly out by Jake Mays ended the frame.

Jake Bowyer led off the Coyote second with a single and would later score on a bases loaded two-run double by Pettibone. Skeete followed up Pettibone’s double with a three-run shot to make it 10-0 Coyotes at that point. Romo would single and move to second on an error by Joe Rubeo. David Lovett would reach on a fielder’s choice when the Tigers caught Romo in a 2-5-6-1 run down between second and third. After a strikeout and Dustin Romero reaching on an error, Bowyer drove in two more with a triple and would score for the second time in the inning on a single by Mathes. Pettibone would be forced out at second to end the frame on a Skeete fielder’s choice.

Two three run home runs from the Coyotes in the bottom of the third plated six for the Coyotes, capping their scoring. After two walks to lead off the inning, Dan Herrle came off the bench and sent a ball through the outfield trees for the first shot of the frame. Two more singles from Brian Dobyns and Brock Pettyjohn set up Luke Kriley’s three run bomb to make it 19-1.

Jake Mays took the first pitch of the Central Christian fifth out of the yard and Robert Trujillo doubled and later scored on an error to cap the scoring for the Tigers.

Jeremy New went the distance for the Coyotes, giving up three runs on eight hits while striking out four and walking none. Mathes had three hits to lead the Coyotes. He also had three RBIs, as did three other Wesleyan players.

Jared DeRusha took the loss for Central Christian, giving up 13 runs on 11 hits, while walking one in one and two-thirds innings of work. Adam Spinder finished the game for the Tigers, giving up six runs on seven hits in two and third innings, and walking four. Mays and Trujillo had two hits to lead the Tigers, while Spinder drove in two runs.

HASTINGS 14, CENTRAL CHRISTIAN 3 – Josh Mondragon had three hits and six RBIs, while Chris Denny ended the game with two outs in the bottom of the fifth with a walk-off grand slam to cap a 14-3 win by the Broncos.

Two homeruns aided by a strong wind out of the southwest got the Broncos ahead 4-0 after the first inning. Central Christian got a single tally in the top of the second when Robert Trujillo scored on a wild pitch after leading off the frame with a walk.

After Central Christian (0-5) posted two runs in the top of the fourth, Hastings blew things wide open with a four-spot in its half of the frame when Mondragon connected on his second three-run bomb of the game and Denny would drive home a run with a double.

Leigh Jochimsen walked to force home the first run for Hastings in the bottom of the fifth before Denny’s slam ended the game.

Alex Kucera got the win for Hastings, while Brandon Dicks took the loss for the Tigers.

KANSAS WESLEYAN 7, HASTINGS 0 – Kansas Wesleyan took a no hitter into the sixth inning en route to blanking Hastings 7-0.

Josh Tomayer led off the game for the Broncos with a walked, but ended the Bronco half of the first when he was caught stealing by Wesleyan’s Kyle Hook.

The Coyotes scored a run in the bottom of the first when Ronny Romo singled to left-center, scoring Mike Pettibone.

Wesleyan (5-3) added two more in the home half of the second when Brian Dobyns would score on a Darell Grames double and after a walk to Brandon Mathes, Pettibone would double home Grames. Russell Skeete’s rocket to center field was tracked down by Leigh Jochimsen to end the inning.

Casey Barnes left after the third inning where he struck out two to end the frame, yielding to relieve Shaun Sumter, who went four innings for the win.

The Coyotes added one more in the third when Romo scored on Dustin Romero’s double. Wesleyan had a chance to add a couple more runs, but after a Hastings pitching change, a ground out and a strike out ended the threat.

Romo’s one out single plated the first of three runs for Wesleyan in the bottom of the fourth. Romero would then reach on an error that plated two more runs for the Coyotes as they jumped out to a 7-0 lead after four innings.

Hastings got its first hit of the game when David Bates would take a Sumter pitch down the left field line for a double, but the Broncos could not capitalize after. Tomayer and Pat Morey both flew out to end the inning.

A bunt single from Joe Jeanjacquet led off the Hastings seventh. After two strikeouts, Mick Krupski singled through the hole at short giving the Broncos two one with two outs. Geoff Hibbs end the game swinging at strike three.

Romo led the Coyotes with two hits in the game and drove in two, while six other Coyotes each had one hit, and three others drove in a run each. Barnes threw three innings of no hit ball, while striking out three and walking two. Sumter went four innings in relief for the win, giving up three hits while striking out six and walking just one.

Hastings (4-7) had three different players have one hit each. Tim Stroman took the loss for the Broncos, giving up four runs on seven hits in two and third innings. Tyler Moos pitched an inning and a third giving up three runs on one hit and Kyle Raaflaub closed things out throwing two and third innings of no hit ball while striking out three.

The Coyotes and Hastings meet up again tomorrow in a Sunday double-header starting at 1 p.m., at Matson Field. The Coyotes then open up KCAC Play on Wednesday when they travel to Friends.

-- KWU SI --