Coker records 16 strikeouts while Coyotes sweep Saint Mary
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Marissa Lewis waits for a pop fly to come down at second base during game one of the Coyotes sweep of Saint Mary

Kansas Wesleyan pitcher Ashley Coker recorded 16 total strikeouts, while the Lady Coyotes combined for 18 runs as the Coyotes swept Saint Mary 14-5, and 4-2 on Tuesday evening at Bill Burke Park.

Coker pitched the final two innings of game one, recording all six outs via strikeouts, after relieving winning pitcher Gabby White. Coker then went the distance in game two, striking out ten.

Annie Denny singled to lead off game one, and came around to score on a sac fly by Jen Werner to give Saint Mary a short lived 1-0 lead. Diana Pereira singled for Kansas Wesleyan in the bottom half of the inning, and scored on a fielder’s choice by White.

Saint Mary went quickly in the top of the second before the Coyote bats came alive in the bottom half of the frame, as Wesleyan put seven on the board. Aimee Dobbins was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and Krista Marsicek followed with a walk. Christine Thompson was then called out for leaving the batters’ box. Marissa Lewis then reached on a wild throw to first by Alicia Allan of Saint Mary allowing Dobbins and Marsicek to score. Pereira singled, and Michelle Kalas doubled down to right scoring Lewis. White then singled, driving home Kalas. After Torrie Stone grounded out to third, White scored on an error by Miki Mellott. Dobbins then tripled in her second at bat of the inning scoring Coker before Marsicek flew out to deep left field to end the inning.

Denny led off the third with a double and moved to third on a stolen base. Jenna Cook then walked and moved to second on a wild pitch by White. After another walk by Morales, Mellott singled up the middle to drive home Denny and Cook. Beckie Neale then scored, after coming in to pinch run for Morales as Becky Phillips grounded out to the short stop.

The Coyotes added five more in the bottom of the third, three of them coming on a Ashley Coker homerun to center. Lewis singled to start the inning and came around to score on a hit by Kalas. Diana Periera then scored on a single by White, leading up to Coker’s bomb.

Coker took over on the mound to start the fourth, striking out all three batters she faced, before the Coyotes added another run in the bottom half. Marsicek scored on an error by the second baseman.

Saint Mary was able to score one more run, as Mellott homered off of Coker with two outs in the top of the fifth. After a single by Werner, Jenny Sparks struck out to end the game.

Gabby White grabbed the win for the Coyotes, pitching three innings, giving up four runs on three hits while walking two and striking out one. Coker came in for the final two innings striking out six, and only giving up one run and two hits. Alicia Allen took the loss for Saint Mary, pitching four innings, giving up 14 runs on 11 hits, while striking out two and walking one.

Saint Mary again jumped out to a 1-0 lead after their half of the first inning, as Denny came around to score on a single by Mellott. Coker recorded all three outs of the first inning via the strikeout.

The Coyotes quickly erased the Saint Mary lead, and Pereira led off with a single, Kalas doubled and White singled to drive home Pereira. Stone grounded out to the pitcher, which Coker followed up with a single, driving home Kalas and White. Chanelle Thompson then grounded out to second, and Marsicek grounded out to the pitcher to end the inning.

Coker struck out two more in the second, before Meghan Walsh grounded out to second. The Coyotes appeared to be ready to add more to their total in the second as they loaded the bases twice, but were unable to get a run home.

Wesleyan added their final run in the fourth as Pereira scored on a ground out by Kalas.

Saint Mary added a single tally in the top of the fifth as Walsh scored on a double by Cook.

After a scoreless sixth, Saint Mary was unable to score in the top of the seventh as the Coyotes held on for the win.

Coker took the win in game two, going the distance for Wesleyan (3-15-1, 3-3), giving up two runs on five hits, while striking out ten and walking only three. Meghan Walsh took the loss for Saint Mary (2-15, 1-9) giving up four runs, all earned, on nine hits in six innings of work.

The Coyotes are in action again on Thursday, as they play Ottawa University in a double header at 5:00 at Bill Burke Park. This is a make-up of the games originally scheduled for March 22, which were rained out.

-- KWU SI --