Matt Dodaro tied the Wabash all-time career record home run record with a two-run blast gave the Little Giants an early lead, but his two-out run on a Wittenberg error in the eighth inning led Wabash to an 8-7 win in the first of two North Coast Athletic Conference Western Division games against the Tigers. Wittenberg took a 2-1 victory in game two Saturday afternoon in Springfield, Ohio.
Dodaro (left) hit the 21st home run of his career in the third inning of the first game to put Wabash in front 3-0. The homer tied him with Mike Mack and Matt Wilhelm for the all-time mark in Little Giant history. Wabash would need those three runs in the end after the Tigers responded with six runs in their half of the third inning to take the lead.
Jake Thomas singled home a run in the fourth to trim the Wittenberg advantage to two runs. Dodaro added a double --- the 35th of his career to move into a tie for third place all-time --- to score a run after Lares singled to third and Thomas reached base on an interference call against the Tigers. Thomas raced home with the tying run one batter later on John Holm's sacrifice fly.
The Little Giants regained the lead in the seventh when David Seibel singled and moved to second on a passed ball, the crossed the plate on an RBI single by PJ Tyson. Keegan Leckrone came in to try and hold the lead, but surrendered a run in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings.
A one-out walk to Dodaro, followed by a stolen base on a Holm strikeout and a wild pitch, put the senior shortstop at third base with two out. Tanner Coggins reached base safely on an error by the Tigers to bring Dodaro home with the eventual game-winning run.
Leckrone earned the win after pitching three innings of one-run, three-hit baseball with two strikeouts. Senior Andy Weeks got no decision after five innings on the mound. He allowed six earned runs on nine hits, three walks, and two strikeouts.
The Little Giants could not take advantage of a strong pitching performance by Mike Korfhagen in game two. The senior took the lose in the 2-1 contest while holding Wittenberg to one earned run on six hits, three walks with three strikeouts. Tyler Burke had the key hit for Wabash, connecting on a home run in the fifth after the Tigers struck for two runs in the first inning.
Thomas finished with four hits in the two games to lead the Little Giants. Dodaro had three hits in four total at-bats along with three walks.
Wabash (6-10, 3-3 NCAC West) and Wittenberg (8-9, 3-3 NCAC) were scheduled to play a doubleheader Sunday, but rain forced the games to be postponed to the weekend of April 25th.
Box Score - Game one (Wabash 8, Wittenberg 7 in 8 innings)
Box Score - Game two (Wittenberg 2, Wabash 1)