SALINA, Kan. — The Hesston College baseball team dropped a four-game series on the road against Kansas Wesleyan over the weekend, despite several early leads and multiple home runs across the series.
Game 1 — Kansas Wesleyan 8, Hesston 1
Hesston opened the game with a strong start in the first inning when Federico Moran hit a solo home run to give the Larks a 1–0 lead. Manuel Aranguren followed with a single later in the inning, but Hesston was unable to add another run.
Kansas Wesleyan answered in the bottom of the first with a two-out RBI single to tie the game at 1–1. The Coyotes took the lead in the second inning after a double and a Hesston error put runners in scoring position. A groundout and a sacrifice fly brought in two runs to make it 3–1.
Kansas Wesleyan added two more runs in the third inning on an RBI single and a fielder’s choice that brought in another run. The Coyotes continued to build the lead in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly and an RBI single to extend the lead to 7–1. Kansas Wesleyan added one more run in the sixth inning on another RBI single to make the final 8–1.
Game 2 — Kansas Wesleyan 9, Hesston 1
Kansas Wesleyan broke the game open in the second inning. After a leadoff walk and a double put runners in scoring position, a bunt and throwing error allowed two runs to score. A wild pitch and an RBI bunt single added two more runs as the Coyotes took a 4–0 lead.
Hesston responded in the fourth inning when Kaleb Wise hit a solo home run to left center to cut the deficit to 4–1. Kansas Wesleyan answered immediately in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run home run to extend the lead to 6–1.
The Coyotes added another run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly and then sealed the game in the sixth inning with two home runs to push the lead to 9–1.
Game 3 — Kansas Wesleyan 21, Hesston 2
Hesston again struck first as Federico Moran hit a solo home run in the first inning to give the Larks a 1–0 lead. Kansas Wesleyan responded with a big bottom of the first inning, scoring five runs on multiple hits, including a two-RBI double and two sacrifice flies.
Kansas Wesleyan continued the offensive pressure in the second inning, scoring five more runs on a home run, RBI double and multiple RBI singles to take a commanding lead. Hesston added its second run in the fourth inning when Kaleb Wise hit a solo home run, but Kansas Wesleyan answered with an eight-run fourth inning that included multiple RBI singles and a three-run home run to put the game out of reach.
The Coyotes added two more runs in the fifth inning to complete the 21–2 victory.
Game 4 — Kansas Wesleyan 8, Hesston 1
Kansas Wesleyan took the lead in the second inning with a two-run home run after a leadoff single. The Coyotes added another run in the third inning on a solo home run to make it 3–0.
Kansas Wesleyan extended the lead in the fifth inning on a groundout RBI before breaking the game open in the sixth inning. A walk and a hit put runners on base before a double drove in two runs, followed by an RBI single to extend the lead to 8–0.
Hesston scored its lone run in the seventh inning when Kreyton Johnson hit a solo home run, but the rally came too late as Kansas Wesleyan secured the 8–1 win to complete the series sweep.
The Larks will return home to face Central Christian College on Tuesday, April 7 in a nine-inning game.
