Leavenworth, Kan.—The Spires just could not overcome a powerful Kansas Wesleyan lineup in the series opener Friday afternoon, falling 16-4 in eight innings to the (RV) Coyotes at USM Baseball Field.
Kansas Wesleyan struck early and never relinquished control, using a three-run home run in the first inning and a six-run seventh to pull away in game 1 of the three-game set. The Coyotes finished with 16 runs, while the Spires produced 4 runs on 7 hits and were left frustrated by leaving 8 Spire runners on base.
The Coyotes jumped in front in the top of the first when Finocchar delivered a three-run bomb to stake Kansas Wesleyan to a 3-0 lead. KWU added two more in the second on a two-run single by Allen before the Spires answered in the bottom half.
Kansas Wesleyan continued to add on with single runs in the third and fourth innings, including a triple from Goldenberg that later led to a sacrifice fly by Riggs, pushing the margin to 7-2. Turner came through again in the fifth, singling in two runs to pull Saint Mary back within 10-4 after a two-run home run by Arndt had stretched the Coyotes' lead earlier in the frame.
Ian Maldonado and Turner each recorded two RBI singles and accounted for all of USM's scoring and highlighted the Spires' most productive innings in the second and fifth.
Tannen Buss,
Lucas Barta, Maverick Rogers, and
Brady Heinen would also come up with hits on the day, but it would not be enough.
The decisive blow came in the top of the seventh, when Kansas Wesleyan broke the game open with a six-run inning. Ruvalcaba capped the surge with a three-run double to right field, extending the lead to 16-4 and effectively putting the game out of reach for the home team. The Coyotes' offense was paced by Olson, who went 4-for-5 with three runs and two doubles, while Finocchario and Arndt each finished 3-for-4 or better with a home run and three RBIs.
Offensively, the Spires showed flashes with their four-run output and drew four hit-by-pitches and two walks, but Kansas Wesleyan's seven doubles and two home runs provided a significant gap in extra-base damage. Saint Mary also stranded eight runners, missing chances to chip away further against a Coyotes staff that recorded four strikeouts and limited big innings outside of Turner's RBI singles.
The loss lands USM at 2-10 overall and 1-7 so far in KCAC play in what is still a very early season. Your Spires will look to bounce back against their nationally recognized opponent tomorrow afternoon in the final double header of the series with first pitch of game one set for noon in Leavenworth.
