Wabash played an NCAA Division I opponent for the second time in a week, losing 5-0 at Butler University Tuesday afternoon. The Little Giants surrendered five runs in the first three innings with two outs while collecting four hits offensively in the contest.
Chris Deig reached on the first hit of the game in the top of the first inning, but was stranded at first to end the inning. The Bulldogs put a runner on second while Wabash starter Keegan Leckrone recorded two strikeouts. The junior could not get out of the inning, however. Butler's Grant Fillipitch drilled a double to right field to bring the first run of the game home, then scored one batter later on a single by Kyle Schultz. Leckrone retired Griffin Richeson on strikes to retire the side.
Wabash put another runner on base in the second inning with a single by Tanner Coggins (right), but once again could not advance him any further than first. The Bullogs put the leadoff hitter on with a walk in the second, eventually scoring a run on a two-out single by Rick Betsch. Luke Duncan brought Betsch home with another single to put Butler up 4-0. The Bulldogs added a final run in the third on Colin Ziegel's two-out RBI single.
PJ Tyson was the only Little Giant player to reach scoring postion, blasting a double in the eighth inning. Coggins added a second single to his totals in the seventh inning for the only other hit for Wabash.
Leckrone suffered his third loss of the season, allowing four earned runs in two innings with two walks, three strikeouts, and two wild pitches. Pete Schmith surrendered a run on two hits in two innings on the mound. Little Giant pitchers Andrew Swart, Brian Van Duyn, Andy Weeks, and Mike Korfhagen combined to hold Butler to four hits over the final four innings.
Wabash (8-13) returns to action this weekend at home against Earlham College. The four-game North Coast Athletic Conference Western Division series is set to begin at 1 p.m. on Friday at Mud Hollow Field.