Wabash was unable to overcome a four-run first inning for the visiting Hanover College Panthers in the Little Giants' home baseball season opener Saturday afternoon. The Little Giants lost by a final score of 17-8 at Goodrich Ballpark to open a three-game series against the Panthers.
 
Wabash (3-7) trailed 6-0 after surrendering four runs in the first inning and two more in the fourth. The Little Giants jumped on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by Erich Lange to score Eric Chavez after the senior shortstop reached on an error and stole third base. After giving up another run in the top of the fifth inning to trail the Panthers (5-2) by a score of 7-1, Wabash scored a second run on a wild pitch that allowed Jackson Blevins to race home. Chavez drove in a run with a single through the left side to plate Andrew Jumonville.
 
Hanover tacked on five runs in the seventh, three in the eighth, and two in the ninth to take command of the game. Sean Roginski drove in a pair of runs with a double in the seventh inning, one of four hits in the game for the Wabash second baseman. Freshman Austin Simmers collected his first career RBI with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning for the Little Giants. Canton Terry and CJ Landrum both picked up RBI singles in the ninth for the final runs of the game.
 
Roginski led the Little Giants with four of Wabash's 13 hits in the game. Chase Clarkson collected two hits in three at-bats for Wabash in a reserve roll.
 
Sean Smith took the loss in the start for the Little Giants. He pitched five innings and gave up ten hits and two walks for five earned runs to go with two strikeouts.
 
Wabash and Hanover will meet for a doubleheader Sunday slated to begin at noon.