JACKSON, MISS. - Kansas Wesleyan faced Texas Wesleyan for the second time in as many days, and for the second time in as many days the Rams came away with the victory, this time an 8-3 decision over the Coyotes in the NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round Tournament at Smith-Wills Stadium.

With the loss, KWU ends its season with a 33-19 record, a season filled with many successes. Wesleyan finished tied for second in the final KCAC standings after being picked fifth in the preseason and won the KCAC PostSeason Tournament for a second straight season. Coach Mark Carvalho picked up his 250th career win on April 11, and Aaron Converse earned KCAC Pitcher of the Year honors.

Adam Resendez put Texas Wesleyan on top 1-0 in the top of the first with a solo homerun to left field, and the Rams added three more in the third to take a 4-0 lead. Morgan Marr and Nick Schrock connected on back to back lead off singles in the third and Jerry Fisher plated the first run of the frame with a suicide squeeze bunt. Two batters later Travis Spencer connected for a RBI single and Justin Keller followed with a hit to center to plate the third run of the frame and chase KWU starter Matt Royal, who had earlier pitched in the 5-4 win over Brewton-Parker in the first game of the day.

The Coyotes halved Texas Wesleyan's lead in the bottom of the fourth. Efrain Gonzalez and Kurri Darby led off the frame with back-to-back hits and Ronny Romo sacrificed the runners over to second and third. After a strikeout, Kyle Hook singled back up the middle to plate a run, and Aaron Converse followed reaching on an error that allowed a second run to score.

Texas Wesleyan got one back in the top of the fifth thanks to a double steal play. The Rams added another in the sixth on a leadoff homer by catcher Mikey Horn, and added two more in the seventh on a two-run single by Horn that scored Resendez and Spencer.

Forced to put on the rally caps for a third straight game, the Coyotes tried to make a comeback starting in the eighth when Travis Irwin led off the inning with a single and then scored on Darby's ground out. The Coyotes also got a little something going in the bottom of the ninth, but could not capitalize on the two-out rally. Kensley Dukes singled followed by a pinch hit single by Jay Hackerott, but Jake Bowyer would strike out to end the game.

Darby had two of KWU's eight hits and drove in a run along with Hook. Royal took the loss, giving up four runs on six hits in two and two-thirds innings of work. Hunter Ward pitched three and two-thirds innings, giving up four runs on five hits, walking one and striking out three and Nate Stark finished the game for KWU, allowing just one hit in two and one-third innings of work.

Joey Evans tossed a complete game for Texas Wesleyan, allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out nine. Four hitters had two hits each for the Rams, including Horn who drove in three of the eight runs.

-- KWU SI --