Friends takes two from Wesleyan for KCAC Championship
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Kansas Wesleyan faced Friends University twice on the final day of the KCAC Post-Season softball tournament, falling to the Falcons 3-2 in game one and then 10-0 in the championship game.

The Coyotes were able to rally in the loser bracket championship game against Ottawa, scoring five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to get a 5-4 win over the Braves.

GAME ONE: Friends 3, KWU 2 – KWU got two runs in the top of the sixth to break a scoreless tie off a homerun by Michelle Webster, but Friends answered back with three runs in the bottom half of the inning and held on for the win.

Wesleyan pitcher Katie Coker rebounded from her struggles yesterday with dehydration to strike out the side in the Friends half of the first, and retired the first five Friends batters she faced before giving up a two-out single to Bobbi McCarty.

The Coyotes had a chance in the top of the second to score, but Friends pitcher Megan VinZant struck out the final two batters in the frame to hold Wesleyan off the board.

The Coyotes had another golden chance in the fourth, but again fell short, this time leaving the bases loaded. Megan Duchene led off the inning with a hit, but back-to-back fielders’ choice plays left only one runner on with two outs. Brittany Ludwisiak singled and Chanelle Thompson was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but VinZant jammed up Barkley to pop out to left to end the rally.

Duchene would be hit by a pitch to lead off the sixth for the Coyotes; setting up Webster to hit a line drive homerun to center that nearly cleared the 250-foot fence to put Wesleyan up 2-0. Jenny Menke would follow with a double and Ludwisiak would reach on an error to give the Coyotes two runners with no outs. Chanelle Thompson then popped out to short and Menke was doubled up at second for a double play before Barkley struck out to end the inning.

Friends evened the score in their half of the sixth, using a two-run homer by Stephanie Jaime after Amy Martinez led off the frame with a single. Haley Martin grounded out to third before VinZant walked and moved to third on back-to-back wild pitches by Coker. Allison Bellar then hit a ball to third that was booted by Watson to score VinZant to put the Falcons up 3-2. Casey Jenson would end the rally when she popped out to short.

After a leadoff ground out in the seventh, Wesleyan got back to back singles from Peat and Watson to get two runners on with just one out. VinZant would throw a wild pitch but Peat would be thrown out at third on the play. Duchene would ground out to short to end the game.

Coker went the distance for the Coyotes, throwing six innings, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out seven and walking just one. Seven different players each had one hit for the Coyotes, while Webster drove in both runs on her homer.

VinZant went the distance for Friends, giving up two runs on seven hits while striking out five and walking one. Five different Falcon players each had one hit, while Jaime drove in two and Bellar had one RBI.

GAME 2: KWU 5, Ottawa 4 – KWU rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the bottom of the seventh, scoring three runs on an error by Ottawa shortstop Ashley Mundy to get the 5-4 win in the final game of the loser’s bracket.

The Braves jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first, thanks to a two-run double by Sharee Joyner and a RBI single by Lori Ewalt, all coming off of Coker, who started the game.

After the first, both pitchers took control of the game until the sixth when the Braves added a run in the top half of the inning. Kelly Higbie hit a homer to left to give Ottawa a 4-0 lead. Pinch runner Erin Michael tried to score when Jamie Miller flew out to right, but a pin-point throw from Ludwisiak would gun her down at the plate.
 
Ludwisiak led off the Coyote seventh with a single, and Wesleyan loaded the bases with two one-out singles from Barkley and Chanelle Thompson. Peat then reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Ludwisiak but did not record an out. Watson would then hit a missle that went right under Mundy’s glove at short. All three base runners scored to give the Coyotes the 5-4 win.

Peat, who relieved Coker after the fifth, got the win, pitching two innings, giving up one run on four hits. Coker threw five innings, giving up three runs on seven hits while striking out six and walking one. Webster and Barkley had two hits each to lead the Coyotes offensively.

Jamie Simms took the loss for Ottawa, going six and a third innings when the game ended. She gave up five runs on eight hits and struck out two. Three different Braves each had two hits to lead the Braves.

GAME 3: Friends 10, KWU 0 – Friends won its second straight KCAC Tournament title, as the Falcons won their 29th consecutive game of the season, beating KWU 10-0.

The Coyotes seemed to run out of fresh bodies in their third game and almost did literally.

The Falcons plated three runs in the first inning, sparked by Jaime’s homer to lead off the inning. Ashley Martin reached on a bunt single, followed by a VinZant walk. After a pop out that was ruled an infield fly, allowing Martin to go to third, she would score when a throw to third was wild. After another pop out, Bobbi McCarty doubled to score VinZant. Then Wesleyan lost third baseman Heather Watson when a line drive shot by Jenson would hit her in the forehead. Sorenson ended the inning with a ground out.

Martinez led off the second for Friends reaching on an error, and Jaime reached when she was hit by a pitch. Martin then grounded out to first to advance the runners before VinZant would double them both home. Matthews then singled and VinZant scored when Duchene’s throw was wild to first. McCarty hit a sac fly to score the Falcons’ final run of the inning.

Friends’ pitcher Brandi Leeker struck out the side in the third and carried a no-hitter into the fifth when Webster snuck in a single to lead off the frame.

The Coyotes turned to regular shortstop Jessica Barkley to pitch the remainder of the game to rest Coker for next week’s regional tournament. In her first action in the circle all season, she forced the first two batters she faced into ground outs back to her and struck out Martin to end the third.

VinZant led off the fourth with a single and later scored along with Bellar who had walked when Annie Matthews launched a three-run homer to put the Falcons up 10-0.

The Coyotes were unable to score in the fifth and Friends got the win.

Peat took the loss for the Coyotes, giving up seven runs on six hits while walking two. Barkley pitched two innings, giving up three runs on two hits while striking out one and walking two. Webster got Wesleyan’s only hit of the game.

Leeker got the win, throwing a one hitter, while striking out eight and walking two. VinZant and Matthews each had two hits, while Matthews led the way with three RBIs.

Wesleyan will next be in action in next week’s NAIA Region IV Tournament in McPherson. Seedings, matchups and other information regarding the tournament will be released early next week.

-- KWU SI --