Wabash stranded 10 base runners Wednesday evening while collecting a total of nine hits in a 3-2 loss at Cal Lutheran.
The Kingsmen scored all three runs in the first inning, smashing two doubles and two triples off Wabash starter Andrew Swart (left).The Little Giant junior settled in from that point, throwing a total of 6-2/3 innings with a total of nine hits while striking out three. Nate Adams worked a 1-1/3 innings of shutout baseball. The freshman did not allow any Cal Lutheran to reach base, striking out two Kingsmen.
Wabash left five runners on base through the first four innings before final putting up a run on the scoreboard. Brian Lares ripped a one-out triple to right, scoring one batter later on an RBI single by John Pennington. The Little Giants added a second run in the sixth inning when John Holm led off with a single. Tanner Coggins moved Holm to third with a single before a fielder's choice by Chris Deig produced the run.
The Little Giants would load the bases in the seventh, but were unable to bring home the game-tying run. Wabash put the tying run at second on a sacrifice bunt by PJ Tyson, but two strikeouts ended the threat.
Joe Johnson and Pennington each had two of the nine hits for the Little Giants. Cal Lutheran (9-6) finished with nine hits and five runners left on base.
Wabash falls to 2-8 with the loss. The Little Giants will take Thursday off before regrouping on Friday for a nine-inning game against Rutgers-Newark. The game will be played at the University of Redlands.