Two four-run innings proved to be the difference on Tuesday afternoon, giving the Butler Bulldogs an 8-2 victory over Wabash College in NCAA baseball. The Little Giants traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana for their first game against an NCAA Division I opponent in over ten years.
Wabash stayed even with the Bulldogs through the first three innings. Travis Moore (SO/Crawfordsville, IN/Crawfordsville) held Butler to two hits while striking out two through first three frames. But a four-run fourth put the Bulldogs in front for good. Moore continued through 6-1/3 innings, finishing the game with five strikeouts while allowing only eight hits and five earned runs.
The Bulldogs added another four spot in the seventh inning before Wabash rallied for two runs in its final at bat. Nick George (JR/West Lafayette, IN/Harrison) led off the inning with a base hit to right, then moved to third when Bill Goff (JR/Brownsburg, IN/Brownsburg) nailed a base hit to left field that skipped under the glove of the outfielder, sending Goff to second. After a fielder's choice eliminated George to give Wabash runners at the corners, senior Mike Mack (Butler, IN/Eastside) ended the shutout with a triple off the left-center field wall that scored Goff and Chris Sides (SO/Brownsburg, IN/Brownsburg).
The Little Giants finished the game with seven hits compared to 12 for their Division I opponents. George and Goff each finished with two hits. Tyler Nance (JR/Celebration, FL/Celebration) and Phil Ramos (SO/Zillah, WA/Zillah) each had a hit in addition to Mack's triple.
Wabash moves to 11-15 with the loss. The Little Giants return to North Coast Athletic Conference action this weekend with a four-game series against Denison University at Mud Hollow Field.