Box Score Fernando Ruvalcaba's RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning was the insurance the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes needed.
 
The run proved to be the difference as the Coyotes held on to beat the Sterling College Warriors 11-10 on Tuesday at Dean Evans Stadium.
 
Sterling took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Manny Cardenas hit a homer.
 
Jacob Williamson led off the KWU half of the inning with a homer launched into the strong south wind, but needed little help to get out. Tyler Favretto followed with a double and Garrett Garfield hit into a fielder's choice that did not yield an out after an error at third base. Carter Allen singled and Joe Finder drove in the second run of the inning with a single.
 
Sterling took a 7-2 lead in the second with six runs coming off a grand slam by Tyler Gates and a 2-run homer by Andrew Dutro after Cardenas reach on an error.
 
In the bottom of the inning, the Coyotes got back into it on a 2-out rally. On three pitches, the Coyotes got three homers by Favretto, Garfield and Ruvalcaba to make it 7-5.
 
Joe Finder led off the Coyote half of the third inning with a homer to draw the Coyotes within a run.
 
The Coyotes tied it in the bottom of the fourth as Ruvalcaba led off the inning with a walk and went to second on an error at second on a fielder's choice by Allen. After a ground out, pinch hitter Jackson Harriger grounded out to bring in the game-tying run.
 
Wesleyan grabbed the lead in the fifth. Romero was hit by a pitch, followed by walks to Williamson and Favretto to load the bases. Garfield was then hit by a pitch to bring in a run. Ruvalcaba then hit into a fielder's choice to bring in another run to give the Coyotes a 9-7 lead.
 
Blake Dale homered in the sixth to give the Coyotes a 10-7 lead, and Romero just missed a homer out to right, as did Williamson.
 
Sterling loaded the bases and brought in a run on a ground out by Joe Almanza in the seventh to make it 10-8.
 
Williamson walked to start the eighth and stole second. Two batters later Ruvalcaba singled, scoring Williamson to make it 11-8.
 
An error to start the ninth for Sterling got the Warriors a base runner and two batters later pinch hitter Nate Heffline hit a 2-run homer to make it a 1-run game. Wesleyan would get two ground outs to end the game.
 
Four different Coyotes had two hits each. Ruvalcaba drove in three runs. Riley Gwin got the win going four and a third innings, allowing two unearned runs on five hits. Hunter Blea got his third save of the season pitching two innings.
 
The Coyotes are scheduled to head to Leavenworth to take on Saint Mary this weekend.