Box Score Box Score

A five-run first inning proved to be too much for Wabash to overcome in a 10-7 loss to Manchester College on Monday evening at Wabash Ballpark.

The Little Giants trimmed the lead to three runs late in the game thanks to a four-run eighth inning. Wabash threatened several times throughout the game, but stranded eight base runners over the nine-inning contest and had two more runners eliminated on a triple play in the fourth inning.

Seven of the nine Little Giant batter produced two hits apiece. Robby Hechinger collected two RBI, while Chris Deig, John Pennington, Clint Scarborough, and Tanner Watson each finished with an RBI.

After Manchester scored five runs in the first inning, Wabash rallied for a pair in the second. Andrew Rodgers opened the second with single, moving to second on a single Tyler Owensby. Hechinger drove home the first run of the game for the Little Giants with a single to left. Deig followed with an RBI single to drive home Owensby. 

The Spartans responded with solo homers in the third and fifth innings, then added three more runs in the sixth on a two-run shot and an RBI single. Pennington added a two-out single in the seventh to Hechinger from second after he reached base on a fielder's choice to make it a 10-3 contest.

Montana Timmons started the eighth-inning rally with a single to left, moving to second after Rodgers followed with a single between short and third. Scarborough came through with an RBI single up the middle, moving to second with Rodgers advancing to third on an errant throw to the plate trying to retire Timmons. A wild pitch brought Rodgers home, then a double down the left field line by Tanner Watson scored Scarborough. Hechinger added his second RBI of the game with a single through the left side to score Watson, but Manchester's Bryce Murphy reitred the next two Wabash batters to end the threat.

Timmons drilled a one-out double to the left field corner in the ninth inning, but was stranded at third when the final out of the game was recorded.

Matt Bowman took the loss after working three innings, allowing six runs on seven hits with one strikeout while hitting two batters. Luke Holm pitched two innings of relief, surrendering three runs on five hits with two walks and a strikeout. Eric Foust pitched two innings, giving up one run on one hit with a walk and two strikeouts. Austin Hawn saw his first action in a Little Giant baseball uniform, striking out four batters while allowing only one walk in two innings of relief work.

Murphy went the distance to improve to 4-1 for Manchester (7-6). The Spartans finished with 13 hits in the contest.

Wabash (8-8) continues action against teams from the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference on Wednesday when the Little Giants travel to Franklin College for a 4 p.m. contest.