Wabash trailed the Battling Bishops, a team that has already racked up 20 wins this season, 5-0 going into the bottom of the fifth inning in the first game. The Little Giants responded by exploding for six runs on six hits. The inning opened with three straight singles by Garrett Alson (Rensselaer, IN/Rensselaer Central), Matt Carlson (Crawfordsville, IN/Crawfordsville), and Jake Martin (Rushville, IN/Rushville) to load the bases. Sophomore Brandon Candiano (Dyer, IN/Andrean) followed with an RBI single to plate the first Little Giant run. Josh Stanton (Mooresville, IN/Mooresville) drew a hit batsman just ahead of a pitch-hit single by Alex Blue (Crawfordsville, IN/North Montgomery) to score two more runs.
After a fielders choice scored another run, third baseman Mike Mack (Butler, IN/Eastside) ripped another single tow score two more runs and give Wabash the 6-5 lead.
It was short-lived, however, as Ohio Wesleyan answered with four runs in the sixth inning to go back in front 9-6.
Candiano brought the Little Giants closer in the seventh as he crushed a pitch over the rightcenter field fence for his first career home run in a Wabash uniform. But the Little Giants could get no closer, falling 9-7.
Not only was game two decided by the same final score, it was nearly a duplication of game one.
Once again the Little Giants trailed going into the fifth inning, this time by a 7-2 score. The fifth was the magic inning once again as Wabash plated five runs to tie the game at 7-7. Candiano led off the inning with a walk, followed by a Stanton single. A Scott Shinkan (Munster, IN/Munster) single loaded the bases for sophomore catcher Jake Knott (Lafayette, IN/Jefferson), who kept things alive with an RBI single to score Candiano. A sacrifice fly by Mack scored another run. Stephen White (Owensboro, KY/Daviess County) then ripped a shot to left field that fell in front of the outfielders, then skipped past the left fielder to roll to the fence. Two runs scored, but White was thrown out at third.
But the Little Giants were not done. Alson singled to left, then raced to third when the throw back to the infield got by the Bishops' second baseman. Carlson followed with a rap to rightcenter, scoring Alson with the RBI double and tying the game at 7-7.
But once again, Ohio Wesleyan came back with a run in the top of the sixth, then added an insurance run in the seventh to take the victory.
Wabash is 6-13 overall, 0-4 in the North Coast Athletic Conference Western Division. The two teams will meet in the final game of the three-game series on Sunday at noon at Mud Hollow Field.