Kansas Wesleyan Softball gave the KCAC-leading Evangel University Valor a challenge on Friday afternoon at Bill Burke Park, but the Coyotes came up just short in both games of the doubleheader.
 
Evangel won the first game 2-1 and took a 4-2 win in the second game.
 
In the opener, the Coyotes took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning when Hailey Summers led off the inning with a single, and then the Coyotes had two straight fielder's choices by Sydnee Fordham and Trenity Miller. After an out, Jocelyn Alcala reached on another fielder's choice but an error at second base would allow Fordham to score putting the Coyotes up 1-0.
 
Evangel came back and tied it in the top of the fourth and took a 2-1 lead with a run in the fifth.
 
Fordham had two of KWU's five hits in the game and scored the lone run of the game for the Coyotes. Caitlyn Collier was again solid in the circle for the Coyotes allowing just two earned runs on six hits with seven strikeouts.
 
The second game went almost the same way as the first.
 
Neither team scored until the Coyotes plated a pair in the bottom of the third. Jenna Soule singled and ended up on third after a Summers single. Fordham brought in the first run of the inning on a single to left. Eliza Flores was then hit to load the bases and Alcala was also hit by a pitch to force in the second run of the inning.
 
Evangel took advantage of a KWU error in the fourth to score three runs and take a 3-2 lead.
 
Another Wesleyan miscue in the sixth allowed Evangel to plate another run.
 
Wesleyan tried valiantly to rally as Flores and Alcala started off the sixth with singles and Josie Buhr's sacrifice bunt put the game-tying run at second base but the Coyotes could not score.
 
Fordham added two more hits for the Coyotes, and another RBI in the game. Starter Jewell Henry went six innings allowing one earned run on five hits.
 
Wesleyan will close out the regular season on Wednesday hosting the Swedes at 6 p.m. at Salina South High School.