Box Score Box Score

For the second time in three games, the Little Giants saw a late lead fall by the wayside. Wednesday the Franklin College Grizzlies scored three runs in the final three innings to defeat Wabash 8-7.

Wabash lost 12-10 to Blackburn College on Sunday after the Beavers scored nine runs in the final two innings to capture the victory. Monday the Little Giants gave up five runs in the first inning, but rallied late in the contest against Manchester. The Spartans held on for a 10-7 victory.

The Little Giants took a 7-4 lead thanks to a six-run fourth. John Pennington drilled a lead-off homer — to cut a 4-1 Franklin lead in half. After Clint Scarborough drew a walk, Tyler Hampton doubled down the left field line to put runners at second and third. Robby Hechinger scored Scarborough on a sacifice fly, then Hampton scored during the next at bat on a wild pitch.

Back-to-back walks to Chris Deig and Tanner Watson brought John Holm to the plate. Holm blasted his sixth home run of the season over the right field fence to give the Little Giants the 7-4 lead.

Hampton produced the first run of the game for Wabash in the second inning. scoring Pennington from third on a single to third.

Franklin scored a run in the sixth, then picked up two runs in the seventh on an RBI double by Rickey DuBois and a game-winning single by Kevin Entwistle. 

Wabash had an opportunity to tie the game in the ninth inning when Holm missed his second home run of the game by less than two feet, crushing a pitch off the left field wall for a one-out double. The Little Giants were unable to collect another hit, falling below .500 with a record of 8-9 with the loss.

Jeff Soller started the game for Wabash, pitching five innings while allowing five runs on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Jimmy Maxwell worked 2/3 of an inning in relief, surrendering one run on three walks and two wild pitches with one strikeout. Ollie Bauer took the loss after throwing 2/3 of an inning and allowing two runs on three hits with two walks. Austin Hawn pitched to the final five batters of the game, striking out one without allowing a baserunner.

Holm, Rodgers, and Hampton each finished with two of the Little Giants' nine hits in the contest. Holm led the way with three RBI.

Wabash begins North Coast Athletic Conference play on Saturday when Ohio Wesleyan University travels to Crawfordsville for a four-game series. Action begins at noon on Saturday at Wabash Ballpark with a seven-inning contest, followed by a nine-inning game.