Junior Mike Korfhagen tossed a five-hitter while the Wabash bats exploded for seven runs in the nightcap of Sunday's baseball doubleheader at the University of Dallas. The Little Giants won game two 7-1 after losing 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh in the first game of the week-long spring break trip.
Korfhagen faced 27 batters, striking out eight while allowing only one walk and one earned run for his first decision of the 2008 season. The Crusaders' only run came in the fifth inning on three singles and that one walk with the bases loaded.
While Korfhagen held Dallas in check, senior Shaun Rico was pounding the baseball all around the park. The first baseman gave Wabash a 3-1 lead with his first home run of the season, a two-run shot in the fourth that scored Tanner Coggins after the freshman's leadoff single. Rico singled home two more runs in the fifth inning to put the game well in hand for the Little Giants. He finished the day 2-for3 with four RBIs, a run scored, and one walk.
Freshman PJ Tyson added an RBI single in the fourth, as did sophomore Bobby Ritz. Coggins, who went 3-for-4 at the plate, scored the first run of the game on a passed ball in the second inning.
Joey Niezer threw well in game one, but for the second start in a row got little run support and saw little mistakes make the difference in the game's outcome. The junior right-hander threw a complete game, allowing only four hits and two walks while striking out six. Both runs by the Crusaders were unearned.
Dallas opened the bottom of the first with a double by Sean McSheffery, who scored two batters later on a sacrifice bunt followed by a passed ball. Wabash tied the game in the second. Coggins drew a one-out walk, moving to third on a double by Rico. Freshman David Seibel brough Coggins home with a ground-out to short.
The Crusaders won the game in the last inning when Chad Violette was hit by a pitch from Niezer. Scott Atkins reached base in the next at bat on an error by the pitcher. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third and a bunt single on a safety squeeze loaded the bases, Zach Atkins singled past the drawn-in infield to score the game winner.
Matt Dodaro, Rico, and Seibel had the only hits of the game for the Little Giants.
Wabash (1-4) continues its Texas tour Tuesday afternoon with a nine-inning contest at Schreiner University. Monday's nine-inning game at Mary Hardin-Baylor has been cancelled due to weather.