A four-run eighth inning ended in a 6-2 loss for the Wabash baseball team Sunday in the final game of its opening series at LaGrange College.
 
The Little Giants took an early lead in the third when Tyler Downing reached base on a one-out error. A bunt single off the bat of Jared Wolfe put runners at first second. LaGrange tried to put an end to the threat by picking off Downing at second, but senior David Oliger laced a double to right-center field to score Wolfe and put Wabash out in front, 1-0.
 
The Panthers (8-3) answered with a leadoff triple and sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the third, but starter Michael Herrmann settled in and prevented LaGrange from producing a big inning. Herrmann pitched five innings, scattering eight hits while walking two batters and giving up two runs. He struck out three batters out of 22 faced.
 
Wabash manufactured a run in the fourth to move back in front, 2-1. Cole Harlacher singled to opening the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Andrew Roginski. Harlacher came around to score on a ground ball to second that was thrown away by the Panthers.
 
The Little Giants held the lead until the sixth inning. Back-to-back singles to open the frame chased Herrmann from the ballgame. Ryan Thomas came in and struck out the first batter he faced, but consecutive walks brought home the tying run and brought Alex Dickey to the mound for Wabash. Dickey retired the next two batters on pop ups to end the inning.
 
Roginski was only Wabash batter to reach base over the next three innings by ripping a two-out single down the right field line in the eighth. The Panthers put two runners aboard in the seventh but were held in check, sending the game to the bottom of the eighth tied at 2-2. LaGrange exploded for four runs on three hits and one Wabash error along with a sacrifice fly to move in front 6-2 and tag Dickey with his first loss of the season. The sophomore worked two inning and gave up four hits and three runs. Luke Dant surrendered one run on one hit along with two walks in a third of an inning. Connor Smith closed out the game on the mound for the Little Giants by striking out the only batter he faced.
 
Roginski finished 2-for-2 at the plate along with two stolen bases. Wolfe went 3-for 4 with a run scored. Oliger had a pair of hits in four at bats with an RBI.
 
Wabash (0-3) is on the road again next weekend. The Little Giants will play a three-game series in Raleigh, North Carolina at William Peace University. The two teams will play a doubleheader Saturday before closing out the series with a single nine-inning game Sunday.