A three-run homer by sophomore Chris Sides (SO/Brownsburg, IN/Brownsburg) in game one helped Wabash to a 5-3 victory in Saturday’s North Coast Athletic Conference baseball series at Ohio Wesleyan University. The Little Giants lost a 7-0 decision to OWU in the second game on Saturday.
Wabash took a 1-0 lead in the opener when junior Nick George (West Lafayette, IN/Harrison) laced a one-out double in the first inning and came around to score two batters later on an RBI double by Bill Goff (JR/Brownsburg, IN/Brownsburg). But a two-run homer by Ohio Wesleyan gave the Battling Bishops a 2-1 lead after two innings of play.
The Little Giants tied the game in the fourth when Goff singled, then moved to third after a double by Sides. A walk to Justin VanderIest (SO/Hudsonville, MI/Hudsonville) loaded the bases for junior shortstop Danny Schubert (Lebanon, IL/Lebanon). Schubert layed down a perfect bunt that not only scored the game-tying run, but also kept the Bishops from recording an out. But Wabash could not take advantage of the opportunity to add to the score.
Ohio Wesleyan took the lead again with an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth, setting up the fifth-inning heroics by Sides.
After a fielder’s choice by Phil Ramos (SO/Zillah, WA/Zillah) and a walk to Goff, Sides ripped the ball over the fence off of 2003 All-American pitcher Tyler Mott to put the Little Giants in front for good.
Sides finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBIs. George was also 2-for-4 at the plate. Goff was 2-for-2 with an RBI, while Schubert finished 1-for-2 with an RBI.
Sophomore John Thiry (Grand Rapids, MI/Grand Rapids Christian) picked up his second win of the season. He struck out eight and allowed only two earned runs on six hits without walking a single OWU batter in the complete game effort.
Wabash would manage only six hits in Saturday’s night cap on the way to a 7-0 loss to OWU. Goff threw 5-1/3 innings, giving up six runs on six hits while striking out 10. George, Ramos, and Sides each had one hit for Wabash. Brandon Heller (FR/Carthage, IN/Rushville), Tyler Nance (JR/Celebration, FL/Celebration), and Bob Lewis (SO/Highland, IN/Highland) each added a hit, as well.
The Little Giants move to 11-12 with the split, 2-4 in the NCAC Western Division. The two teams will meet on Sunday for the final two games of the weekend series.
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