For the fourth game in a row the Wabash baseball team found itself in a late inning battle. This time the Little Giants would not be denied a victory, rallying for an 11-10 win over Dickinson College in the final game of the team’s spring break trip to Arizona.
Freshman third baseman Bobby Ritz brought home the game-winning run on a bases-loaded infield hit with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning against Red Devils to hand the Little Giants their third victory of the Southwest trip.
Wabash held a 9-7 lead going into the eighth inning, only to have Dickinson score three runs in the top half of the eighth to take a 10-9 lead. Freshman Tony Goodpaster came on in relief to shut the door for the Little Giants, benefiting from outstanding defense by first baseman Shaun Rico on a line drive ground out and a pop up.
Matt Dodaro started a two-out eighth inning rally for Wabash with his double to left center, scoring one batter later when Jake Lee drilled a double down the left field line to tie the game at 10-10.
After Goodpaster held the Red Devils scoreless in the top of the ninth, Rico started the bottom of the ninth off with a walk. Eric Carroll replaced Rico, moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Scott Hamilton. Carroll moved to third when Mike Nowak laced a single to right field, The Red Devils intentionally walked leadoff hitter Kyle Rush to load the bases for Ritz.
The rookie tapped a slow roller to short and raced safely down the first base line as Carroll scored the winning run on the infield single.
Goodpaster earned his first career victory, working 1-1/3 innings of scoreless baseball. He gave up only one hit to the five batters he faced in relief.
The Little Giants pounded out 17 hits, led by the 3-for-5 effort by Dodaro. Rico had two doubles and two RBIs. Ritz, Hamilton, and Jake Thomas each also finished with two RBIs in the contest.
Wabash (3-6-1) travels to DePauw University Wednesday afternoon for a nine-inning contest against the Tigers.