Coyotes drop 3-2 decision to William Carey
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Kansas Wesleyan led 2-0 after six innings, but William Carey (Miss.) posted a single run in each of the last three frames, including the game winning double in the bottom of the ninth as the Crusades knocked off the Coyotes 3-2 on Wednesday afternoon at Milton Wheeler Field.

Dan Herrle got Wesleyan on the board first when he scored in the top of the third after leading off the frame with a walk. Herrle reached third on a single by Dusty Romero and came around to score when Brock Pettyjohn reached on an error by Jordon Prout.

Pettyjohn put the Coyotes up 2-0 in the fifth when he led off the inning with a homerun.

William Carey’s Greg Alexander scored the Crusaders’ first run of the game when he scored when Louis Rolon grounded out to second base in the bottom half of the seventh.

Wesleyan (9-6) had a chance to open its lead up in the top half of the eighth when the Coyotes had runners of second and third with two outs, but Herrle struck out to end the rally chance.

Pat Barnes tied the score up at 2-all in the bottom of the eighth when he scored on a wild pitch.

Wesleyan went quietly in the top of the ninth, setting up the final frame for William Carey.

Rolon grounded out to first for out number one. Will Dannelley walked, and Brandon Chretien flew out to center. Barnes then stepped up and hit a double, scoring Dannelley for the win.

Pettyjohn had three of the Coyotes’ six hits on the day and drove in both of the Wesleyan runs offensively. The Coyotes had plenty of scoring chances, but could not convert, leaving 11 runners on base. Brandon Mathes pitched 7.2 innings giving up two runs on two hits while striking out five, but did not get the decision. Brian Dobyns pitched the final out of the eighth and had two outs in the ninth, before allowing the game winning hit. Dobyns took the loss after an inning of work, giving up one run on one hit, facing six batters.

Matt Rozier pitched seven innings for William Carey (21-10), giving up two runs on six hits, while striking out three and walking four. Matt Carter got the win for the Crusaders, working two innings, striking out two. The Crusaders had only three hits on the day, by Michael Lewis, Rolon and Barnes. Rolon and Barnes each had one RBI.

Wesleyan wraps up its “Tour of the South” Spring Break trip tomorrow with a 6 p.m. contest with Loyola (La.) in New Orleans at Segnette Field. The Coyotes are back in action on March 26 with a double-header contest at home  against Dana (Neb.) at 2 p.m., at Dean Evans Stadium.

-- KWU SI --