[Softball] Softball falls to Ottawa 5-3 in KCAC Tournament

GREAT BEND, Kan. – The Kansas Wesleyan softball team saw its season come to an end on Saturday as the Coyotes fell to the Ottawa Braves 5-3 in an elimination game in the KCAC Tournament at the Great Bend Sports Complex.

The game was a pitcher's duel between Wesleyan's Tara Stubits (SO/Topeka, Kan.) and Kylee Saunders from Ottawa over the first five innings.

Ottawa got on the board first in the bottom of the fifth inning with a pair of runs, but their lead was short lived as the Coyotes responded right back in the top of the sixth.

Alyssa Garza (JR/San Antonio, Texas) was hit by a pitch to start the inning, followed by a single by Stubits. A fielder's choice by Jessica Vegely (JR/Mariposa, Calif.) yielded the first run for the Coyotes. Three batters later, Taylor Lenggenhager (JR/Austin, Texas) singled to drive in Vegely and tie things up 2-2.

Ottawa got three more on the board in the bottom of the sixth putting the Coyotes down 5-2 heading into the seventh.

Kayla Kruel (SR/El Cajon, Calif.) started a rally for the Coyotes with a pinch hit double and Alyssa Garza drove in a run for the Coyotes with a single to center. After a pitching change by Ottawa, Stubits was hit by a pitch and Vegely walked to load the bases, but the Coyotes could not push anymore runs across.

Lenggenhager had two of KWU's seven hits while five others had one each. Stubits was again solid in the circle for the Coyotes, going six innings, allowing five runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and no walks.

Wesleyan closes its season at 19-24 overall.