Wabash scratched out five hits, rallying twice from deficits in game two before losing 4-3 in eight innings to the Wittenberg Tigers Saturday afternoon. The Little Giants were shut out 5-0 in game one of the North Coast Athletic Conference baseball contests at Mud Hollow Field.
The Tigers scored a run in the fourth and another in the fifth inning to take a 2-0 lead in the second game Saturday afternoon. The Little Giants tied the game in the sixth when Jared Bogan deposited an 0-2 fastball into left field to score Mike Nowak, who had reached base on a one-out walk. Billy King, who walked prior to Bogan's single, scored on a sacrifice fly by Matt Dodaro after Shaun Rico was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Dodaro's fly ball to left brought King home with the tying run.
Wittenberg responded with a run in the seventh. After a walk to catcher Matt Steinke, Patrick Williams sacrficed Steinke to second, but an errant throw on the play sent put runners on second and third with noone out. With one out after a strikeout and walk to load the bases, Jon Fox hit shot at Dodaro with the infield drawn in to try for the runner at the plate. Dodaro knocked the hard-hit ball to the ground, but could only go to second for the out, allowing Steinke to score for a 3-2 Wittenberg lead.
The Little Giants tied the game in the seventh when freshman Jake Thomas started the inning with a single to left. Eric Carroll came on to pinch-run for Thomas, moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Scott Hamilton. Carroll scored one batter later when David Culp singled throught the right side of the infield to send the game into extra innings.
Wittenberg used a pinch-runner in its half of the eighth to score the eventual winning run. After Brian Hampp singled with one out in the inning, Rocky Staton came on to run for him. A walk moved Staton to second to set Williams up for another RBI, driving the ball up the middle for the game-winning hit.
Wabash had a chance to tie the game again in the eighth. Mike Korfhagen drew a walk to start the inning. Travis Moore came in to run for Korfhagen, moving to second on a sacrifice by Rico. Dodaro smashed a one-out line drive up the middle, but Tiger shortstop K.R. Schlievert was headed back to the bag in attempt to hold Moore close and found the ball hit to his left. Schlievert stepped in front the line drive, making the catch before stepping on second to double up Moore and end the game.
Freshman Andy Weeks suffered his second loss of the season despite holding the Tigers to eight hits and only three earned runs. Weeks also struck out eight in eight innings of work.
Thomas had two hits for the Little Giants. Culp, King, and Bogan each added one.
The Little Giants were held to just six hits in game one, losing 5-0. Wabash would not pick up its first baserunner until the third inning when Phil Ramos singled past the shortstop Schlievert. Wabash would not get a runner in scoring position until King ripped a two-out triple to right in the fourth but could not get him home. Only three other players would reach second base in the game for Wabash. Culp, Chris Sides, and Justin VanderIest joined Culp, King, Rico, and Ramos with hits in the game.
John Thiry suffered the loss, his fourth of the season. He worked all seven innings with two strikeouts in the game. The Tigers collected 12 hits overall.
The Little Giants (14-12, 4-2 NCAC West) will play Wittenberg in the final two games of the series Sunday afternoon at 12 p.m. at Mud Hollow Field.