Wabash liked the start of Tuesday's game against the Rochester Institute of Technology, but quickly soured on the game when the Tigers scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning on the way to a 12-4 victory over the Little Giants in Chandler, Arizona.
Freshman Kyle Rush singled to opening the contest, then came around to score on a shot by sophomore shortstop Matt Dodaro to the left-center field wall for an RBI double. Wabash would not be able to bring Dodaro home, but still seemed ready for an afternoon of hits against the Tigers.
The hits didn't come again for several innings. RIT answered with a five-run first to take the lead, then added a run in the second, two in the third and two more in the fourth to move in front 10-1. Meanwhile the next 12 Little Giant players were retired in order before Jake Thomas drew a walk in the top of the fourth. Thomas raced to third when the Tigers' Pat Walters threw a pickoff attempt to the foul fence. But Thomas was called out at second when the field umpire upheld an appeal by the Tigers that he missed the base heading to third on the errant throw, one of three key calls that went against the Little Giants on the bases in the game.
Wabash rallied in the fifth inning when Jake Lee singled to left and came around to score on a two-out single by Rush. Senior Scott Hamilton added a run in the sixth after reaching on error, coming around to score on a single by Dodaro. Rush had a hand in the final run, scoring Mike Nowak on a fielder's choice in the seventh.
Dodaro went 2-for-4 for the game with two RBIs. Nowak had two infield hits in three at bats, while David Culp and Rush each added two hits, as well.
The Little Giants (2-3) will take Wednesday off before resuming play in Arizona on Thursday against Dakota State University.