The Spires two outs away from a sweep as they took two out of three games from Kansas Wesleyan this weekend. Saint Mary is now 9-15 in KCAC play. The Spires sit two games back of McPherson for sixth place in the KCAC Standings. McPherson has one more game with Tabor today then finishes the regular season with a double header against Bethany.
The first game of the series slipped away from Saint Mary as they led 3-1 heading into the final inning. Kansas Wesleyan would strike for five runs and beat the Spires 6-3. Zack Novis took the tough luck loss as he departed the game with a 3-1 lead, one out, and the bases loaded in the ninth. Juan Gallardo was a perfect three for three with an RBI at the plate. Sam Miller was two for four with an RBI and Andrew Berry had an RBI double.
Two early runs for the Coyotes but Saint Mary in a hole early on in game two of the series. Ryan Benson settled in on the mound after the first and tossed a complete game allowing just two runs while walking one and striking out eight. Jordan Wilkerson would tie the game in the bottom of the fourth when he sent a shot through the wind and over the left field fence for a two run home run. The Spires took the lead on a wild pitch strikeout with two outs in the fifth. Isaias Pulido would score from second as the wild pitch was thrown away trying to gun down the runner at first base.
In the final game of the series, Mike Amado provided his best outing of the season. Amado threw nine innings and held Kansas Wesleyan to just two runs. Amado struck out eight and walked three. Jeremy Melvin walked to begin Senior Day for the Spires. Stebbins followed with a single. Wilkerson then sent a two out, RBI double to the left center gap to give Saint Mary the early lead. Pulido would add an RBI single and Guillermo Loera an sacrifice fly. Chase Kearney went one for three and singled to begin the Spires two run sixth inning.
Saint Mary will close regular season play at Sterling on Friday and Saturday this weekend. The Spires reamin in the hunt to grab the sixth place spot which is the final spot to get into the KCAC Tournament played in Great Bend next week.
