The Kansas Wesleyan bats came alive in the first game of Monday's doubleheader with Evangel, but the teams would split the two games as Evangel used a big inning to get past the Coyotes in the nightcap.
Wesleyan won the first game at Dean Evans Stadium 14-2 in a run-rule-shortened seven inning contest, while Evangel used a 7-run second inning in the second game to win 8-3.
In the opener, the Coyotes got the scoring started in the second inning as Josh Sandoval (SR/Glendale, Ariz.) reached on a single and courtesy runner Jalen Jones (SO/Katy, Texas) later scored on a hit by Reece Bishop (SO/Colorado Springs, Colo.). Two batters later freshman Robbie Keener (FR/Abilene, Kan.) doubled home Diego Fisher (JR/Hollister, Calif.) and William Dryburgh (SR/St. Joseph, Mo.) also doubled to bring in Keener.
The Coyotes added four more in the third. Sandoval reached on a single and then Jones, again as a courtesy runner, scored on Dustin Sipe (JR/Aztec, N.M.)'s double. Bishop then followed with a towering 2-run homer over the scoreboard in left field. Kevin Esquilin-Cruz (JR/Trujilo Alto, Puerto Rico) would double to drive in Keener, who doubled for a second time in as many innings.
Evangel got two back in the top of the fourth on a pair of homers, but the Coyotes added four more in the bottom of the inning.
Haydn Brown (SR/Gardnerville, Nev.) started the rally reaching on an error then scored on Jarrett Gable (JR/Colleyville, Texas)'s double. Bishop later added an RBI single, Keener drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and Bishop would score on a passed ball to make it 11-2 after four frames.
Dryburgh hit a 3-run homer in the bottom of the sixth for the Coyotes.
Bishop and Esquilin-Cruz had three hits each in the opener, while Bishop and Dryburgh drove in four runs each. Tyler Triano (JR/Hollister, Calif.) was masterful on the mound for the Coyotes, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out nine in the complete game performance.
Evangel used a 7-run second inning to take what proved to be an insurmountable lead in the second game on the way to an 8-3 win.
Three walks loaded the bases for the Valor in the inning, then the Coyotes had a chance to get a huge second out, but a throw home to get the lead runner was wide and allowed a run to score and set up an RBI hit, a 3-run homer, and an RBI double in the inning.
Wesleyan got on the board in the bottom of the fifth as Fisher led off with a double and was followed by a double by Esquilin-Cruz. Dryburgh drove in the second run of the frame on a sacrifice fly.
Evangel got a run back in the sixth on a single to short to make it 8-2.
In the bottom of the seventh it looked like the Coyotes had a rally going as Esquilin-Cruz struck out, but reached on an error then scored on Brown's single. Keener then came up to the plate and struck out on a pitch that he had to reach for, and the umpires ruled he interfered with the catcher on the play and called Brown out who was trying to go to second on the play to end the game.
Sipe, Bishop and Esquilin-Cruz all had two hits each for the Coyotes. Ryan Sandoval (JR/El Paso, Texas) took the loss allowing five runs, four earned, on a hit in an inning and a third of work.
The Coyotes will continue their month-long, 21-game homestand on Saturday and Sunday, hosting a pair of doubleheaders with William Penn at Dean Evans Stadium. First pitch both days is scheduled for noon.