Both teams came into Saturday's games tied for first place in the NCAC Western Division. The Bishops entered the contest ranked 12th in the first regular season ABCA national poll.
But that didn't seem to bother the Little Giants in the second game. Wabash had not gotten a hit through four innings before a Jared Bogan (Struthers, IN/Struthers) base hit broke up Michael Kreiger's no-hit effort. Bogan came out of the game after suffering an injury heading to first base, but pinch-runner Bob Lewis (Highland, IN/Highland) came around to tie the game at 1-1 three batters later on line drive that hopped in front of the OWU third baseman.
After struggling to find a hit early in the contest, the Little Giant bats exploded in the sixth, picking up four runs on six hits. Sophomore Nick George (West Lafayette, IN/Harrison) opened the inning with a single up the middle, then went to second on a base hit by senior Jake Martin (Rushville, IN/Rushville). Pitcher Bill Goff (Brownsburg, IN/Brownsburg) helped his own cause by earning the game-winning RBI with a single between short and third.
After a line-drive double-play was turned by Ohio Wesleyan, sophomore Danny Schubert (Lebanon, IL/Lebanon) brought home an insurance run with a single past third. Mike Mack (Butler, IN/Eastside) put the game away with a stinging shot to right-center field that hit off the top of the wall for a two-run double. Freshman Chris Sides (Brownsburg, IN/Brownsburg) added the final run with another double, scoring Mack to put Wabash up by four.
Goff finished the final inning of the game on the mound, throwing his second complete game of the year. The sophomore allowed only one run on seven hits in seven innings, striking out four and walking only one while improving to 3-1 for the year.
The victory was the first in school history over the Battling Bishops. Wabash was 0-15 against OWU prior to the 5-1 win.
The Little Giant took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of the first contest, but saw the Bishops score seven runs in the top of the second to take control of the contest on the way to an 11-2 win. Wabash scratched out eight hits in the contest.
Wabash improved to 14-9 for the year, 4-2 in the NCAC West and remained in a tie for first place in the division with Ohio Wesleyan. The Bishops fall to 13-7, 4-2 against NCAC Western opponents.
The two teams will complete the season series on Sunday afternoon, beginning at noon at Mud Hollow Field.