EUREKA, Illinois -- Wabash took a 3-0 lead in the first inning and never trailed from there on the way to a 12-1 win at Eureka College on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Wabash (10-6) used three 3-run innings over the course of the game, shortened to seven innings by the run rule. The victory gives the Little Giants a sweep in the two-game series against the Red Devils (5-13) after posting an 8-1 win at home on March 18.
 
Will McKinzie drove in three runs with three hits to pace the Wabash offensive effort. The Little Giants took advantage of their speed on the base paths by swiping six bases. Will Phillips stole two bases to join Will Fremion, Evan Neukam, Michael Galanos, and McKinzie with one apiece.
 
Aidan McConnell (3-1) started on the mound and picked up the win for Wabash. The right-hander went 5.2 innings, giving up one run on three hits, allowing one walk and striking out seven. Henry Birk also made an impact on the mound for the Little Giants, throwing 1.1 shutout innings while allowing two hits, with no walks and three strikeouts.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
The Little Giants got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. Fremion brought in the game's first run with an infield single, scoring Phillips. McKinzie picked up his first RBI of the contest with a single through the right side of the infield to bring home Ben Henke. McKinzie and Fremion executed a perfect double steal, with Fremion racing to the plate for the third run of the inning.
 
The Little Giants offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. Wabash picked up a pair of runs in the frame on a two-run error by Eureka to extend the lead to 5-0.
 
Wabash held Eureka scoreless before expanding its lead to 8-0 the following inning. The Little Giants picked up three runs in the frame,  with two coming across on a two-run single by Phillips.
 
Wabash built on its lead in the fifth inning. Neukam crossed home plate with the lone run of the inning for the Little Giants on a sacrifice fly, bringing the Wabash advantage to 9-0.
 
The Little Giants held Eureka off the board before expanding their lead to 12-0 the following inning with a two-run triple by McKinzie. Eureka put one run on the scoreboard with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth to end the scoring by either team.
 
GAME NOTES
» McKinzie compiled three hits in the game for Wabash.
» McConnell struck out seven Red Devils hitters.
» The Little Giants' power output was led by McKinzie, who compiled two extra-base hits in the ballgame.
» Wabash's highest-scoring inning was the sixth when it pushed three runs across.
» Wabash took a 3-0 lead in the top half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» The Little Giants out-hit the Red Devils at a 9-5 clip.
» Phillips stole two bases in Wednesday's game.
» The Little Giants swiped six bases as a team.
» Wabash went 5-for-16 (.313) with runners in scoring position.
» Wabash pitchers faced 27 Eureka hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and three fly balls while striking out 10.
» The Little Giants drew six walks from Eureka pitching.
» McKinzie led the Little Giants at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, and three RBI.
 
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