KWU Athletics
WICHITA – The Friends Falcons used a 2-out rally in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes in heartbreaking fashion 8-7 on Sunday at West Side Athletic Complex.
Friends had a runner on base with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, when the Falcons got back-to-back singles to tie it, and then win the game 8-7.
Friends would also take the win in the series after the teams split Saturday's doubleheader.
After Friends had taken a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, the Coyotes rallied with three runs in the top of the second inning. Diego Fisher (JR/Hollister, Calif.) led off the inning with a single and Kevin Esquilin Cruz (JR/Trujilo Alto, Puerto Rico) walked. Robbie Keener (FR/Abilene, Kan.) moved up the runners with a sacrifice bunt and Jarrett Gable (JR/Colleyville, Texas) followed with a 2-run single. Reece Bishop (SO/Colorado Springs, Colo.) then singled and Josh Sandoval (SR/Glendale, Ariz.) drove in the third run of the inning reaching on a fielder's choice.
Gable homered in the top of the fourth to make it 4-2 in favor of the Coyotes, but Friends answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 6-4 lead.
Back came the Coyotes with a run in the sixth when Bishop reached on a fielder's choice then scored on Sandoval's RBI double. Fisher gave the Coyotes the lead 7-6 in the seventh with a 2-run single after Haydn Brown (SR/Gardnerville, Nev.) singled to open the inning and Dustin Sipe (JR/Aztec, N.M.) walked.
Fisher had three hits and drove in two runs for the Coyotes. Gable had two hits and drive in three. Bishop and Sandoval had two hits as well.
Jansen Lublin (JR/San Diego, Calif.) went three and a third in the start for the Coyotes allowing six runs, four earned. Oscar Sanchez (JR/Celina, Texas) when an inning and two-thirds allowing a hit with two strikeouts. Ryan Sandoval (JR/El Paso, Texas) suffered the loss for the Coyotes in three and two-thirds, allowing two runs on five hits, while striking out six.
The Coyotes are set to take on Sterling on Tuesday. The game was originally scheduled to be played in Sterling, but due to forecast weather, the game has been moved to Salina in a 3 p.m. start at Dean Evans Stadium. The April 12 game scheduled for Salina with Sterling will now be played in Sterling.
Be sure to check kwucoyotes.com for all the latest schedule updates with impending inclement weather this week.