A late Wabash rally fell short in the Little Giants' 7-5 loss to Defiance College Thursday afternoon in Fort Myers, Florida.
 
Wabash trailed 7-1 before scoring three runs in the fifth inning and one more in the sixth to draw within two runs. The Little Giants were unable to produce a base runner over the final three innings in an attempt to draw closer to the Yellow Jackets.
 
Defiance (3-3) picked up a pair of runs in the first inning before an RBI single by Jake Fernung drove Taylor Canter home after the sophomore led off the inning with a triple to right-center field.
 
Leading 2-1, the Yellow Jackets delivered the big blow in the fourth inning with a grand slam off the bat of shortstop Ryan Kohlhofer to stretch the lead to 6-1. Defiance added another run in the fifth to move in front 7-1 before Wabash started its rally. Two walks and a hit batsman loaded the bases for Tyler Downing, who hit a ground out that scored a run. Canter delivered a two-run single to cut the lead to 7-4 in the fifth. Eric Chavez opened the sixth with a walk, then stole his first base of the season before scoring on a double to right by David Oliger.
 
Ryan Thomas took the loss in his first start of the season. The freshman righthander pitched four innings and faced three batters in the fifth, allowing five hits and six earned runs with three walks and three strikeouts. Luke Dant came on in relief, walking three with one strikeout over two innings. Cameron Glaze closed out the final three innings, holding Defiance to three hits with one strikeout.
 
Canter and Oliver each finished with two of the Little Giants' six hits. Fernung and Jared Wolfe added one hit apiece. The Little Giants stranded eight base runners, including three in the first inning.
 
Wabash (3-7) will return to the diamond in less than 24 hours with a 9 a.m. contest Friday morning against the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.