CRAWFORDSVILLE, Indiana --- Wabash erased a 3-1 deficit to Wittenberg University in Wednesday evening's North Coast Athletic Conference men's lacrosse match to earn a 10-6 victory, defeating the visiting Tigers for the first time in the 11-year history of the program.
 
Wabash (7-5, 1-3 NCAC) used a 5-0 scoring run in the second quarter after trailing 3-1 through the first 15 minutes of the contest.
 
The Little Giants scored the contest's opening goal when Quinn Fitzgerald tallied his team-best 25^th goal of the season. Wittenberg (3-6, 0-3) scored the next three goals to take the lead at the end of the first quarter.
 
Charlie Rafalko ended the Tigers' scoring streak and started the Wabash run with his 20^th goal of the season. Evan Bair tied the score at 3-3 with 6:49 left in the second period with his ninth goal of the year. Jake Pippen added the first of two goals less than 40 seconds later to give Wabash the lead it would not relinquish. Will Kerker scored with 5:11 left in the half to put the Little Giants up 5-3.
 
Luka DiFilippo won the ensuing faceoff, scooped up the ground ball, and raced toward the Wittenberg net to score his third goal of the season to give Wabash a 6-3 halftime edge.
 
The Tigers ended the scoring streak with a goal in the first minute of the third period to draw back to within two goals. Fitzgerald notched his second goal of the contest to put Wabash up 7-4 before Wittenberg closed the lead to 6-4 through three quarters.
 
The Tigers made it a one-score game with 9:54 left to play with a goal to make it 7-6. Sam Santiago pushed the lead back up to 8-6  at the 6:54 mark of the fourth period. Pippen scored his second goal of the match and 16^th of the season to extend the lead to 9-6. Santiago added one final goal, his ninth of the season, with 1:12 left on the clock to put the game away for Wabash.
 
The Little Giants outshot Wittenberg 31-23 with a 15-12 edge in shots on goal. Wabash goalkeeper Colin Krekeler made six saves to earn the victory. The Little Giant defense limited Wittenberg to one goal in five extra-man opportunities. Wabash did not have any man-up chances in the game.
 
Lucas Cunningham paced the defensive effort with four caused turnovers. DiFillipo won 10 of 19 faceoffs and finished with a team-best six ground balls.

Fitgerald finished with two assists in addition to his two goals. Kerker and Christian Dybedock also picked up assists in the win. 
 
Wabash continues its conference homestand with a Saturday afternoon contest against Oberlin College. The opening faceoff takes place at 1 p.m. at Fischer Field.