LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Wabash erupted for 15 runs on 15 hits and answered every Monmouth surge Friday night, holding off a late rally to claim a 15-12 non-conference victory over the Scots at Loeb Stadium.
The Little Giants (1-2) scored in six of eight at-bats, built a 13-6 lead through six innings, and added critical insurance in the eighth before surviving a three-run ninth by Monmouth (0-3). The win went to
Jackson Woehr, who worked 3.1 innings in relief, while
Finn Randolph recorded the final two outs for his first save of the season.
Wabash matched Monmouth's 15 hits but took advantage of four Scots errors and six walks. The Little Giants finished 6-for-15 with runners in scoring position and left only five men on base.
Monmouth struck first with three runs in the top of the first inning on four hits, highlighted by Jacob Blunck's two-run triple to right-center.
Wabash responded immediately.
Will Fremion reached on a bunt single and advanced to third on a throwing error before scoring on a wild pitch.
Will McKinzie doubled to left-center,
Ben Henke walked, and
DJ Mendez delivered an RBI double to score McKinzie.
Parker Smith and
Miles Cvelbar followed with sacrifice flies to plate Henke and Mendez, respectively, giving Wabash a 4-3 lead after one.
The Little Giants extended the margin in the second when
Carson Vlcan tripled to right-center and scored on
Jimmy Hawksworth's sacrifice fly for a 5-3 advantage.
Monmouth tied the contest with three runs in the fourth, stringing together four hits to chase Wabash starter
Aidan McConnell. The Scots' rally made it 6-5 before Woehr entered and induced an inning-ending double play.
Wabash answered again in the bottom of the fourth.
Caleb Ellspermann walked and Vlcan followed with a bunt single. After both runners moved into scoring position, McKinzie delivered a two-run double to right-center. Henke later scored on a Monmouth fielding error to push the lead to 8-6.
The Little Giants added two more in the fifth. Cvelbar walked, Vlcan singled, and Hawksworth doubled home a run. Vlcan later scored on a passed ball to extend the lead to 10-6.
Wabash broke the game open with a three-run sixth. McKinzie singled and was replaced by pinch runner
Bradley Gilliam. Henke reached on an error, and Mendez singled home Gilliam. Henke also scored on the play after another Monmouth throwing miscue. Cvelbar capped the inning with a sacrifice fly, making it 13-6.
Monmouth cut into the deficit with three runs in the seventh, aided by defensive errors, trimming the margin to 13-9. But Wabash answered once more in the eighth. Henke walked, Mendez singled, and Smith's bunt single loaded the bases. Cvelbar drove in a run on a fielder's choice before Ellspermann singled to left-center to score another and give the Little Giants a 15-9 cushion.
The Scots refused to go quietly, plating three unearned runs in the ninth after loading the bases.
Connor Lambert issued a pair of walks before Randolph entered and struck out Clayton Matkovic and retired Aiden Scott on a pop-up to secure the victory.
Mendez led Wabash offensively, going 3-for-4 with a double, three runs scored, and two RBIs. McKinzie finished 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs. Vlcan added three hits, including a triple, and scored three times. Hawksworth drove in two runs, while Cvelbar recorded three RBIs on a pair of sacrifice flies and a run-scoring fielder's choice. Smith contributed two hits and an RBI.
On the mound, Woehr (1-1) allowed three runs, two earned, on three hits over 3.1 innings with one strikeout. McConnell started and surrendered three runs over 2.2 innings.
Nick Wangler gave up three runs in relief,
Trey Pitcock tossed 1.1 scoreless innings, and Randolph closed it out with two-thirds of an inning, striking out one.
Monmouth's Ethan Zaayenga (0-2) took the loss after allowing eight runs, seven earned, on six hits over four innings.
Wabash and Monmouth conclude the series Saturday with a doubleheader at Loeb Stadium beginning at noon.
