Coyotes topple Spires in home opener
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Kansas Wesleyan opened the home portion of its 2008 softball schedule with two routs of Saint Mary 11-1 and 17-1, both five inning run-ruled games, on Thursday night at Bill Burke Park.

Wesleyan pitcher Katie Coker struck out the side in the Saint Mary half of the first before the Coyotes posted two runs in the bottom half of the frame. After Coker led off the inning with a ground out, Jamie Peat singled to left-center followed by a Heather Watson single to right center.

Peat then scored on an error by Saint Mary’s Tiffany Starks on ball from Megan Duchene, and then Watson scored on a double steal by the Coyotes that was aided by a throwing error by the Spire catcher Nicole Twitchell.

Wesleyan had a chance to add more runs in its half of the second after Chanelle Thompson reached on a walk and Coker hit a ground rule double over the fence in left with two outs, but the Coyotes could not plate a run as Peat popped out to the infield to end the threat.

The Coyotes added another pair in the bottom of the third when Webster singled home Duchene and later scored on a double by Tara Earley.

Wesleyan exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the fourth. After Coker led off with a fly out to left, Peat singled and scored when Watson sent a bomb well over the center field fence. Duchene followed with a single, as did Webster, driving home Duchene. Jenny Menke then plated a pair on a two-run double to left followed by a Earley ground out to short that drove home Jessica Barkley. Thompson then hit a ball that scooted under the outfield fence for a double scoring Menke and Coker got a second chance in the frame, singling up the middle scoring Thompson.

Coker took a no-hitter into the top of the fifth before it was broken up by Meghan Walsh. Lyndsey Baxter scored Saint Mary’s only run of game one when she came across on a single by Twitchell after leading off the inning with a walk. Starks ended the game with a ground out to short.

Coker got the win for the Coyotes in the first game, going five innings allowing one run on two hits while walking two and striking out ten. Six Coyotes had two hits each as Wesleyan pounded out 15 hits in the first game. Three players had two RBIs each.

Alicia Allan took the loss for Saint Mary, pitching four innings, giving up 11 runs on 15 hits while walking one and striking out two. Twitchell had a hit and drove in a run and Walsh recorded Saint Mary’s only other hit of the game.

The Spires struck first in game two, when leadoff hitter Heather Ashman singled and later scored on Wesleyan’s second error of the inning with two outs on a ball from Heather Russell. Isidra Estrada flew out to left to end the Spire threat.

The Coyotes responded strongly to Saint Mary’s run in the top of the first. The Coyotes pounded out eight runs on five hits, capitalizing on three Saint Mary miscues as 12 batters came to the dish.

Coker led off with a walk and Peat reached on a fielder’s choice that drew the Spires’ first error of the inning when pitcher Meghan Walsh’s throw to second to try to force out Coker went sailing into center field. Watson then singled scoring Coker. Duchene then reached on another wild throw from Walsh to first base which allowed Peat to score. Webster then stepped up and sent a 2-1 offering from Walsh way over the left field fence for a three run shot. Jessica Barkley and Menke followed with back-to-back singles and moved up a base on a wild pitch before both scoring on a single from Earley. After Brittany Ludwisiak flew out to left, Coker reached for a second time in the inning on an errant throw from the catcher Twitchell. Peat then sacrificed home Earley before a fly out would end the inning.

The Coyotes posted four more in their half of the third to take a 12-1 lead at that point. Menke led off with a single and scored on a fielder’s choice by Peat. Earley then scored on another Saint Mary error, and Watson drove home Peat with a well-placed double down the left field line. Watson then scored on a double steal by the Coyotes before a ground out would end the threat.

Russell got Saint Mary’s only other hit of the second game in the top of the fourth. The Spires left two on base when Walsh ended the threat watching strike three for the third out.

The Coyotes (10-9, 4-0 KCAC) plated five more in the fourth. Barkley led off with a double and scored on a Menke single. Earley then reached on a fielder’s choice that resulted in no out when second baseman Whitney Kraxner missed the toss from the shortstop at second. Menke then scored on a fielder’s choice by Coker, which again posted no out when Kraxner missed the toss from Starks again. Peat then followed up with a three run bomb to right. A Duchene double came up empty when a strike out stranded her to end the inning.

Kerry Yocum singled in the top of the fifth with one out, but the Spires could do no damage as Twitchell’s bunt attempted was fielded cleanly by Earley at first, who tossed to Coker who was covering the bag to end the game.

Menke had three hits to lead the Coyotes in game two as Wesleyan pounded out 14 hits, while scoring 17 runs and capitalizing on six Saint Mary errors. Peat had five RBIs to lead the way in game two. Peat also got the win, throwing five innings, giving up one run on three hits while striking out three and walking one.

Three Saint Mary (0-11, 0-4) players each had one hit and Russell drove in the lone run for the Spires. Walsh took the loss, giving up 17 runs on 14 hits, only eight of those runs were earned, while striking out two and walking two.

The Coyotes are back in action this weekend as they head  to Sioux City, Iowa, to play in the Morningside College Tournament on Saturday and Sunday.

-- KWU SI --