Baseball Wins Home Opener
Romo's grand slam leads KWU to 7-5 victory
David Toelle
Issue date: 3/4/10 Section: Sports
Kansas Wesleyan won its home opener baseball game 7-5 over York College (Neb.) on Tuesday afternoon at Matson Field.
The Coyotes did most of their damage in the fifth inning thanks to a grand slam by Ronny Romo.
Neither team scored until the fifth inning, when York had back-to-back one out doubles by Dan Costanza and Keaton Holland to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
After a walk to Josh Warren, Wesleyan starter Casey Barnes struck out CT Twisselman and Kris Little to record three strikeouts in the frame. Wesleyan exploded in the fifth for five runs. After a lead off strikeout, Wesleyan got two baserunners via walks by York pitcher Kai Miller. After a York pitching change, pinch hitter Jordan Bain walked to load the bases and Aaron Converse laid down a perfectly executed squeeze play to score the first run.
Romo then stepped to the plate and sent Andrew Matheny's 0-1 offering over the "chain link monster" in right field for a grand slam to put the Coyotes up 5-1.
The Coyotes added two more in the sixth on a RBI single by Matt Royal and a sacrifice fly by Converse. Ryan Leasure relieved Barnes to open the seventh inning for the Coyotes, and gave up three straight hits, including a three-run homer to Holland that got York within three at 7-4. KWU coach Mark Carvalho sent Royal to the mound to finish the inning. York (7-4) got one more in the eighth when Holland reached on an error by Nick Hartzell that allowed Justin Lunday to score after reaching on a two-out single earlier in the inning. Royal was able to hold York from doing any more damage by striking out Warren to end the inning.
Wesleyan (6-5) left two in the bottom of the eighth as the Coyotes had runners at second and third with no outs, but could not capitalize on the opportunity.
Converse pitched the ninth for the save for the Coyotes, getting Sam Feiner to ground out to second to end the game.
The Coyotes got seven runs on five hits as five different players each had one hit, highlighted by Romo's grand slam in the fifth inning as he drove in four runs and Converse drove in two more.
Barnes pitched six innings, allowing one run on five hits while striking out seven against just two walks. Converse picked up the save working a perfect ninth inning.
Andrew Matheny took the loss for York, giving up three runs on two hits without recording an out. Costanza was 3-for-4 in the game, while Holland went 2-for-4 and drove in four of York's five runs.
The Coyotes are off until this weekend when they are scheduled to play Hastings College in a pair of doubleheaders, one Saturday and one Sunday, both beginning at 1 p.m., at Dean Evans Stadium in Salina. Wesleyan then takes 11 days off before opening KCAC play at Ottawa on March 18.
The Coyotes did most of their damage in the fifth inning thanks to a grand slam by Ronny Romo.
Neither team scored until the fifth inning, when York had back-to-back one out doubles by Dan Costanza and Keaton Holland to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
After a walk to Josh Warren, Wesleyan starter Casey Barnes struck out CT Twisselman and Kris Little to record three strikeouts in the frame. Wesleyan exploded in the fifth for five runs. After a lead off strikeout, Wesleyan got two baserunners via walks by York pitcher Kai Miller. After a York pitching change, pinch hitter Jordan Bain walked to load the bases and Aaron Converse laid down a perfectly executed squeeze play to score the first run.
Romo then stepped to the plate and sent Andrew Matheny's 0-1 offering over the "chain link monster" in right field for a grand slam to put the Coyotes up 5-1.
The Coyotes added two more in the sixth on a RBI single by Matt Royal and a sacrifice fly by Converse. Ryan Leasure relieved Barnes to open the seventh inning for the Coyotes, and gave up three straight hits, including a three-run homer to Holland that got York within three at 7-4. KWU coach Mark Carvalho sent Royal to the mound to finish the inning. York (7-4) got one more in the eighth when Holland reached on an error by Nick Hartzell that allowed Justin Lunday to score after reaching on a two-out single earlier in the inning. Royal was able to hold York from doing any more damage by striking out Warren to end the inning.
Wesleyan (6-5) left two in the bottom of the eighth as the Coyotes had runners at second and third with no outs, but could not capitalize on the opportunity.
Converse pitched the ninth for the save for the Coyotes, getting Sam Feiner to ground out to second to end the game.
The Coyotes got seven runs on five hits as five different players each had one hit, highlighted by Romo's grand slam in the fifth inning as he drove in four runs and Converse drove in two more.
Barnes pitched six innings, allowing one run on five hits while striking out seven against just two walks. Converse picked up the save working a perfect ninth inning.
Andrew Matheny took the loss for York, giving up three runs on two hits without recording an out. Costanza was 3-for-4 in the game, while Holland went 2-for-4 and drove in four of York's five runs.
The Coyotes are off until this weekend when they are scheduled to play Hastings College in a pair of doubleheaders, one Saturday and one Sunday, both beginning at 1 p.m., at Dean Evans Stadium in Salina. Wesleyan then takes 11 days off before opening KCAC play at Ottawa on March 18.
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