Oklahoma Wesleyan wins KCAC baseball title

2024 KCAC baseball championship

Oklahoma Wesleyan reliever Ashton Luera struck out 11 consecutive Kansas Wesleyan batters to spark the Eagles past Kansas Wesleyan 6-4 in Sunday's KCAC baseball championship.

Oklahoma Wesleyan (34-18) and KCAC regular season champion Kansas Wesleyan (45-10) qualify for NAIA postseason play May 13-16. The NAIA bracket is released May 9.

OKLAHOMA WESLEYAN 6, KANSAS WESLEYAN 4 — The Eagles led 2-0 on a Jesus Maldonado homer and RBI groundout by Ravaughn Morgan. Kendall Foster's 2-run double tied it 2-2.

The Eagles led 3-2 on Alex Austin's homer. The Coyotes regained the lead 4-3 on Tyler Favretto's hit-by-pitch and Reece Bishop's sacrifice fly.

The Eagles delivered an RBI by Josh Logan, Josue Valadez's RBI double and Morgan's RBI groundout for a 6-4 win.

KANSAS WESLEYAN 3, MCPHERSON 2 — The Coyotes eliminated McPherson (25-28) with back-to-back wins over the Bulldogs. Cruz Oxford scored the game-winning run on a bases-loaded seventh-inning walk. K.T. Gearlds earned the victory by recording four outs.

Alex Garcia singled in courtesy runner Jalen Jones in the second and fourth for a 2-0 lead. McPherson's drilled a 2-run homer for a 2-2 tie.

KANSAS WESLEYAN 7, MCPHERSON 3 — Kansas Wesleyan's Jarrett Gable drove in three runs. Favretto, Adrian Villalobos and Alex Garcia added RBIs. Pitcher Nathan Galusha struck out six batters in 31/3 innings to earn the victory.

OKLAHOMA WESLEYAN 7, FRIENDS 5 —Oklahoma Wesleyan rallied from a 5-0 deficit with seven runs in the final three innings to eliminate Friends and qualify for the KCAC championship game against Kansas Wesleyan.

OKLAHOMA WESLEYAN 10, FRIENDS 2 — Oklahoma Wesleyan powered past Friends 10-2. Victor Sanchez, Josh Logan, Jorge Aldrete and Josue Vasquez each drove in two runs.

TABOR 6, AVILA 3 — Tabor pitcher Cashen Schranz (3-4) pitched 61/3 innings with six strikeouts. Tyler Mata Lloyd drove in two runs. Juan Rosa Gonzalez, Micah Dvorak, Cody Moore and Trotter Boston each drove in one run.

MCPHERSON 5, OTTAWA 1 —McPherson pitcher Hayden Casey yielded one run in six innings. Colin Evers drove in two runs. Evan Morrison, Dawson Walters and Kevinn Castillo each drove in a run.

KANSAS WESLEYAN 5, EVANGEL 1 — Regular-season KCAC champion Kansas Wesleyan shut down Evangel 5-1 behind Zach Westbrook's eight strikeouts. Kendall Foster, Jarrett Gable, Cruz Oxford and Zack Beatty delivered RBIs.

KCAC TOURNAMENT

GREAT BEND SPORTS COMPLEX

CHAMPIONSHIP

SUNDAY—Oklahoma Wesleyan 6, Kansas Wesleyan 4

BRACKET A

SUNDAY—Kansas Wesleyan 3, McPherson 2

SATURDAY—Kansas Wesleyan 1, Evangel 0; Kansas Wesleyan 7, McPherson 3

FRIDAY—Evangel 3, Ottawa 2; McPherson 11, Kansas Wesleyan 9

FIRST ROUND—Kansas Wesleyan 5, Evangel 1; McPherson 5, Ottawa 1

BRACKET B

SATURDAY—Friends 12, Tabor 4; Oklahoma Wesleyan 7, Friends 5

FRIDAY—Friends 2, Avila 1; Oklahoma Wesleyan 6, Tabor 4