Wabash pounded out 38 hits, including seven home runs, in a two-game sweep of Wisconsin Lutheran Friday afternoon. The Little Giants won the first game 20-5 before taking a 15-8 win in the nightcap.
The Wabash bats pushed the ball through a driving and swirling wind and dust storm that settled in the Arizona area during the afternoon. The Little Giants hit .514 for the day (38 of 74) and finished with a slugging percentage of .946.
The Little Giants scored in every inning of both games, starting with two runs in the opener. David Culp scored on an RBI single by Billy King in the first inning before King raced home on a wild pitch. A four-run second inning broke open with a three-run double by catcher Scott Hamilton, who finished the day with a triple, double, three runs scored and five RBIs for the day.
The six runs in two innings would be enough for Chris Schmaltz to pick up his second win of the season. The sophomore right-hander pitched five innings with a total of eight hits and four earned runs while recording a season-best ten strikeouts. Nick Rico and Travis Smith finished the final two innings to secure the victory for Wabash.
Senior third baseman Jared Bogan helped the Little Giants to two runs in the fourth inning when he blasted his second homer of the season deep over the left field fence. It would not be his last.
Wabash hit six home runs in game two, including two by Bogan. The Little Giants blasted four long balls in the fourth inning alone. Freshman Jake Thomas started the home run parade when he launched his first career homer over the center field fence. He added his second career homer with a three-run bomb in the sixth. The rookie outfielder was 5-of-6 for the day with eight RBIs.
After Thomas' first homer, Bogan got things going again, lifting a shot into the 35 MPH wind gusts. His shot launched over the right-center field fence. One batter later Chris Sides made it three homers in the inning with solo shot to left. Senior Phil Ramos put the final home run on the board with a solo shot to left to put the Little Giants up 11-1.
Andy Weeks was the recipient of the offensive output, working five innings on the mound to record his second victory of the season. The freshman scattered eight hits with five walks and six strikeouts. Smith came on to pitch the final two innings, holding the Warriors to one run and three hits while striking out two.
Bogan finished the day 5-of-7 with six RBIs, three home runs, a double, and four runs scored. Ramos was 5-of-6 with two doubles, a homer, and four RBIs.
Wabash improves to 6-4 with the two wins. The Little Giants finish their Arizona spring break trip Saturday morning with two games against William Paterson.
Photos - (top left) Scott Hamilton drives a triple in the first game against Wisconsin Lutheran, one of 16 extra base hits for Wabash in the two-game series.
Jared Bogan receives Coach Tom Flynn's congratulations after hitting his first homer of the game. Bogan had three of Wabash's seven home runs on the day.
Freshman Jake Thomas heads into third base. The freshman outfielder hit two homers and had two doubles and eight RBIs in the two Wabash wins.