Coyotes get past Drovers to extend streak to 14
By: Andy Brockman and David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Kansas Wesleyan won its 14th consecutive baseball game with a doubleheader sweep of the University of Sciences and Arts of Oklahoma Drovers, 2-1 and 7-2, on Monday afternoon at Dean Evans Stadium.

GAME ONE: KWU 2, USAO 1 – The Coyotes scored two runs in the bottom of the first and that was enough to beat Drovers in game one as starting pitcher Brian Dobyns was very effective and pitched a complete game allowing only one run.

The first inning for the Coyotes consisted of three hits and two runs.  Darell Grames opened it up with a single up the middle.  Brandon Mathes then reached on an infield bunt single.  After a Brock Pettyjohn sacrifice bunt, Russell Skeete hit a single scoring Grames and giving Kansas Wesleyan a 1-0 lead.  They would score one more on a sac fly hit by Mike Pettibone scoring Mathes to go up 2-0.

USAO would get its lone run in the top of the second on a Brandt Lierle single scoring Cody Howard. 

Neither team posted another run to give Wesleyan the 2-1 win.

Brian Dobyns got the win and pitched all seven innings allowing just one run on six scattered hits while striking out one and walking two. 

The Wesleyan hitters got six hits led by Brandon Mathes with two.  Dan Herrle, Grames, Skeete, and Pettibone all added one.

Brian Hunnicutt took the loss for USAO and pitched five innings, allowing two run on six hits, while striking out four and walking one.  Bill Boss pitched one shut out inning. Dalton House led the Drover hitters with two hits.

GAME TWO: KWU 7, USAO 2 – The Coyotes exploded for seven runs in the first three innings to cruise to the game two win.

USAO struck first in the top of the first inning when Louie Romero reached on an error by Dustin Romero that allowed Ryan Birney to score. The Drovers stranded a pair when Joel Atchley flew out to end the inning.

Wesleyan tied it up in the bottom of the frame when Mathes doubled and later scored on a single by Stephen Cilladi and error by right fielder Kyle Dotson.

USAO (19-17) got another in the top of the second when pinch runner Brad Sylvester scored on a single from Birney. Cody Howard would strike out to end the Drover half of the inning as USAO again left two runners on base.

The Coyotes exploded for four big runs in their half of the second. Romo led off with a double, and later scored on Grames’ two-out single. A single by Mathes scored Nick Hartzell who reached on a walk, and Cilladi knocked in a pair with a two-run single before being gunned down at second base trying to stretch.

Two singles and an error allowed Wesleyan (23-7) to plate the first of two runs in the third. Lovett then drove home the second run of the frame with a sacrifice to left scoring Pettibone putting Wesleyan up 7-2.

USAO got two base runners on in the sixth off Wesleyan reliever Jeremy New on hits from Dale Bellamy and Dotson, but R.J. Nieto grounded out to the pitcher to end the threat.

The Drovers got two base runners again in the seventh off Wesleyan pitcher Brandon Mathes, but were unable to produce any runs. Cody Hines led off the inning with a single, but was later called out on runner interference on a hit by Cody Howard. After a pop out, Sylvester walked before Burnell flied out Grames in center field to end the game.

Nick Allaire went four innings for the game two win, giving up two runs on four hits while striking out four and walking one. New pitched two effective innings in relief allowing two hits and striking out one and Mathes closed things out pitching the seventh, giving up two hits and one walk. Grames and Mathes were each 2-for-4 at the plate, while Cilladi was 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs.

Matt Sopic took the loss for USAO, pitching two innings, giving up five runs on six hits while walking one and striking out one. Four other Drovers each pitched one inning. Howard and Bellamy each had two hits in game two to lead USAO.

Wesleyan is back in action on Wednesday taking on KCAC foe Ottawa University in a scheduled 4 p.m. start at Dean Evans Stadium.

-- KWU SI --