MESA, Ariz. – All eight runs combined for both Kansas Wesleyan and 23rd-ranked Benedictine-Mesa came in the fourth and fifth innings as the Redhawks came away with a 6-2 win in KWU's season opener at Gene Autry Ballpark in the Coach Calderone Invitational.
The Coyotes were the first to score in the game with runs in the top of the fourth inning, breaking a scoreless tie.
Yealex Lopez-Torres (JR/Arecibo, Puerto Rico) reached on a one-out single, then scored on Diego Fisher (JR/Hollister, Calif.)'s double. Two batters later Jalen Jones (SO/Katy, Texas) tripled to drive in Fisher making it 2-0 Coyotes.
In the bottom of the fourth, Benedictine scored four times, taking advantage of two KWU errors with two outs to score the second two runs of the inning.
The RedHawks added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI triple and a sacrifice fly.
Five different Coyotes had a hit in the game – William Dryburgh (SR/St. Joseph, Mo.), Haydn Brown (SR/Gardnerville, Nev.), Lopez-Torres, Fisher and Jones.
Tyler Triano (JR/Hollister, Calif.) took the loss on the hill for the Coyotes, allowing four runs, two earned, on five hits with four strikeouts and a walk. Oscar Sanchez (JR/Celina, Texas) pitched an inning allowing two runs on two hits, and Spencer Foley (JR/Lancaster, Calif.) pitched three innings, not allowing a hit while striking out six.
KWU is back in action in the Coach Calderone tournament on Wednesday, taking on Taylor (Ind.) at Gene Autry Ballpark at 2 p.m. Mountain Time, 3 p.m. Central Time.