Wabash came up on the short end of a 1-0 pitchers dual at DePauw University Wednesday afternoon.
Senior John Thiry (right) and freshman Andy Weeks held the Tigers to only one run over nine innings. Thiry allowed only five hits in five innings, giving up the lone run in the fourth. The inning started with a hit batsman and base hit, with Matt Deahl and Greg DeBeer moving to second and third on a throwing error. DePauw shortstop Zach Harris hit Deahl on the next at bat, putting runners on first and second on the fielders choice. But another hit batsman loaded the bases for Kyle Dobbs, who hit a slow roller up the middle. The Little Giants got the out at second with one down, but did not have time for the double play, putting the Tigers up 1-0.
The Little Giants had four different opportunities to put runs on the scoreboard. After the first trip through the lineup against winning pitcher John Kihlken, freshman second baseman Mike Nowak put a perfect bunt down the first base line for a base hit. Junior outfielder Billy King ripped a double down the right field line that was nearly caught by Dobbs, forcing Nowak to hold at third. Senior Jared Bogan hit a bouncing ball to short with Nowak charging toward the plate. But a clean pickup and throw to the plate by Deahl erased Nowak, and a pop up on the infield on the next at bat ended the fourth inning for Wabash.
Justin VanderIest smashed a double to left center to open the sixth inning, but three consecutive flyouts would strand the tying run 90 feet from the plate. Phil Ramos (left) added a one-out double in the eighth, but would not move up after a flyout and strikeout ended the inning.
Wabash had one more chance in its final at bat. A two-out double by Bogan extended his consecutive game hitting streak to eight and put the tying run on second. Chris Sides hit what appeared to be the game-ending ground ball to short, but Sides hustled down the line and beat out an errant throw by Harris to extend the inning with runners on the corner. But the inning would last only one more batter as PJ Mitchell earned his first save of the season with a final strikeout in the ninth.
Four of the five Little Giant hits went for extra bases, but Wabash could not manage a hit with runners in scoring position despite coming into the game batting nearly .370 as a team. Wabash finished the game 5-for-32 at the plate. Thiry suffered his second loss of the year to fall to 1-2. He stuck out one and walked one batter along with two hit batters. Weeks worked three innings with three hits and three strikeouts.
Wabash (6-5) opens the home portion of its season with two doubleheaders this weekend at Mud Hollow Field against Clarke College from Iowa. First pitch is slated for noon both Saturday and Sunday.