The Little Giants faced two tough opponents Saturday in Wooster and regionally-ranked Wheaton. Wabash rallied for a 5-4 win over Wooster in the morning session. The final decision in the team's 5-4 loss to Wheaton came in the final matches.
Wooster (0-2) claimed the first two doubles matches to open the day's events before Little Giants Sean Clerget and Ryan Waldon rallied for an 8-4 win over Andrew Garnett and Rob Ashmead at third doubles.
Will Pelak, Luke Bielawski, and Jay Horrey gave Wabash the lead with singles victories. Pelak dispatched Dave Albrechta 6-3, 6-4 at number one singles. Bielawski remained perfect in North Coast Athletic Conference singles play with a 6-2, 6-3 win against Grant D'Augustine. Horrey dropped his first set 4-6 at third singles before taking over in the final two sets for a 6-2, 6-4 win.
Those wins put Wabash up 4-3 after a loss at fourth singles with freshman Ricky Ritter on court at fifth singles. The rookie gave the Little Giants the win with a 6-1, 6-3 victory against Garnett.
The evening matches against the 17th-ranked Thunder were even more dramatic. Once again the Little Giants trailed 2-1 after scoring only one win in doubles play. Pelak and Ryan Tennyson took down Corey Kraftson and Davis Moore 8-4 in the second flight of doubles.
Pelak came right back on court to start singles play. He battled Josh Williams shot after shot before scoring a 7-6 (4), 1-6, 6-4 win in the first flight.
Bielawski had a much easier time at second singles. The freshman improved to 5-0 in his flight after making short work of Justin Miller. The Wheaton player came into the match ranked 20th in the Central region, but Bielawski cruised to a 6-2, 6-1 victory.
Horrey scored another win at third singles with a 6-4, 6-2 win to put Wabash up 4-2. This time the Little Giants would be unable to score the game-clinching victory. The Thunder (5-1) took the final three matches to claim the 5-4 win.
The Little Giants (3-2, 1-1 NCAC) return to action Saturday with home matches against Ohio Wesleyan University and the University of Chicago.