KWU Athletics
After giving up two runs in the top of the first inning, Tuesday's game between Kansas Wesleyan and Sterling had all the makings of a high-scoring affair.
The Coyotes would respond in the bottom of the first, scoring 10 runs before an out would be recorded on the way to a 13-8 win in the Kansas Conference opener for both teams at Dean Evans Stadium.
Ike Brown gave Sterling a 2-0 lead after the top of the first inning, hitting a 2-run homer to center field.
The Coyotes wasted no time getting on the board in the bottom of the inning.
Haydn Brown (SR/Gardnerville, Nev.) led off the inning with a homer, followed by a second round tripper by Dustin Sipe (JR/Aztec, N.M.).
Diego Fisher (JR/Hollister, Calif.), Reece Bishop (SO/Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Zach Olson (SO/Red, Alberta) followed with singles to load the bases. Robbie Keener (FR/Abilene, Kan.) followed with a 2-run double and after a Sterling pitching change, Josh Sandoval (SR/Glendale, Ariz.) singled to drive in the go-ahead run.
A single by Jarrett Gable (JR/Colleyville, Texas) loaded the bases again, and Yealex Lopez-Torres (JR/Arecibo, Puerto Rico) singled home another run. Brown then came up for the second time in the inning, and quickly unloaded the bases with a grand slam to right field putting the Coyotes up 10-2. All 10 Wesleyan runs in the inning came before an out was recorded.
Sandoval doubled and scored on Gable's single in the second as the Coyotes added another tally in the frame.
Wesleyan added single runs in the fourth on Olson's homer and in the fifth on a single by Bishop.
Sterling tried to rally in the late innings, scoring three in the sixth and two more in the ninth.
KWU had 16 hits led by three by Bishop. Brown, Olson, Sandoval and Gable had two hits each. Brown drove in five with his two first inning homers.
Spencer Foley (JR/Lancaster, Calif.), who was named KCAC Pitcher of the Week during the game, picked up the win going five innings allowing three runs on four hits with four strikeouts. Oscar Sanchez (JR/Celina, Texas), Ethan Wilson (SR/Thackerville, Okla.), KT Gearlds (JR/Ingram, Texas) and Ryan Sandoval (JR/El Paso, Texas) all made appearances.
The Coyotes host McPherson in a 3-game series to wrap up a 21-game homestand. The teams will play a single game on Friday at 3 p.m., followed by a doubleheader on Saturday starting at noon at Dean Evans Stadium.