A one-out, game-winning double in extra innings by freshman Dave Seibel gave Wabash a 3-2 victory over Case Western Reserve University Saturday afternoon at Mud Hollow Field in non-conference baseball action. The Little Giants lost game two 3-1 to the visiting Spartans.
Seibel drilled a 2-1 pitch over the head of the Case left fielder to score Matt Dodaro from second after the junior led off the ninth inning with a single and was sacrificed to second. The Spartans did not want to face North Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week Shaun Rico, intentionally walking the senior to get to Seibel. (View photos from the Little Giants' win over Case here.)
Wabash was forced to go into extra innings after seeing an early 2-0 lead evaporate. The Little Giants scrapped for a run in the first when Bobby Ritz singled, stole second, then scored on a two-out towering single down the left field line by Dodaro. Wabash added a run in the second on an RBI single by Seibel to score fellow freshman Tanner Coggins. Coggins reached base on a single, advancing to second on a throwing error on a failed pickoff attempt before moving to third on a ground out by Rico.
Both Case Western runs came in unusual ways. The Spartans loaded the bases in the third, scoring on a strikeout that ended with a passed ball for the first run. Case tied the game in the seventh when starting pitcher Mike Korfhagen was called for a balk after moving toward first but failing to throw the baseball. The move sent Kevin Train home with the tying run. Wabash could not score in the seventh, sending the game into extra frames.
Keegan Leckrone picked up the win in relief, working two innings while allowing only one base runner with a walk. He struck out three batters. Korhagen walked three but struck out a career-high 13 batters. He allowed only five hits.
Wabash answered a three-run Spartan first inning in game two with a run of its own in the bottom of the inning. Leadoff batter PJ Tyson reached base and advanced to second on a throwing error. He went to third on a Ritz single, scoring on a ground out by Jake Thomas. The Little Giants would go scoreless for the remaining six innings. gathering only four hits during that stretch.
Andy Weeks took the loss, pitching all seven innings with four walks and four strikeouts and six hits. After surrendering three runs on three hits, a walk, a passed ball, and a wild pitch in the first inning the junior settled into a groove. He gave up just three hits and three walks over the next six trips to the mound.
Ritz, Thomas, Rico, Coggins, and Alan Griggs each had one hit for the Little Giants in the loss.
Wabash (11-9) and Case will meet at 11 a.m. Sunday morning for two more games.
Photo - Dave Seibel is congratulated by his teammates after delivering a one-out double to win game one Saturday for Wabash.
Box score - Game one (Wabash 3, Case Western 2 in nine innings)