KWU sweeps Tabor in regular season finale
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Cole Crawley pitched a complete game in his final game of the 2005 regular season, and his career as a Coyote, scattering six hits and only giving up one run as Kansas Wesleyan won the first game of an important doubleheader with Tabor College 3-1.

The Coyotes scored two runs in the bottom of the second on a bases loaded single by AJ Anthony with two outs. They then added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth as Anthony scored from second on a solid single by Kyle Dillehay into right field.

Tabor got on the board in the top half of the sixth on a line drive homer to right by Nick Green.

Casey Hillman went the distance for Tabor in the first game and took the loss, giving up seven Coyote hits, and three runs, all of them earned.

Game two was tied 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth, when Andy Brockman, who was a courtesy runner for Brian West, was called out on a sacrifice fly by Josh Flax, but was ruled safe after a protest by Coyote head coach Tim Bellew, since the catcher did not tag Brockman with the ball, only hitting him with his shoulder.

Tabor’s head coach was ejected during the following argument, and then before play resumed, the BlueJay’s first baseman Brian Kimsey, and second baseman Tanner Monhollon were also ejected for arguing the call.

Tabor responded in the top of the fifth and scored two runs, but the Coyotes exploded in the bottom half scoring four runs of their own. Matt Garretson singled, and moved to third on a double to deep right center by Ryan Wardein. Kyle Dillehay singled and brought home Garretson, while Wardein moved to third. Brian West sacrificed to drive home Wardein. Dillehay then moved to second on a passed ball, and scored on a throwing error by the shortstop Grant Brubacher on a ball by Adam Carroll. Josh Flax was hit by a pitch, before Josh Letourneau was summoned from the Tabor bullpen. Trevor Howell then reached first on a throwing error by the second baseman allowing Carroll to score. TJ Fields then popped out to short to end the inning.

The Coyotes added a little insurance in the bottom half of the sixth as AJ Anthony launched a homer over the scoreboard in left field to put the Coyotes ahead 7-3.

Rob Ozga got the win for the Coyotes, pitching three innings after relieving starter Brian Deutscher to start the fifth. Ozga gave up only three hits and two runs, both earned. Andy Womack took the loss for Tabor, giving up six runs, four of them earned on nine hits in just four and two-thirds innings work.

The Coyotes finish the regular season at 14-36 overall and 7-17 in the KCAC. Tabor dropped their fifth in a row and falls to 19-27 overall and 7-15 in the KCAC, tied with Sterling.

The Coyotes’ chances of making the KCAC Tournament are still alive, but have to wait on the outcome of the Saint Mary at Tabor games on Saturday for a chance to make it to the tournament. Sterling also figures into the mix, as they split with Ottawa today and play at Friends on Saturday.

-- KWU SI --