LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Wabash College used timely hitting and strong pitching performances to sweep Saturday's neutral-site doubleheader against Monmouth College, claiming 6-1 and 5-3 victories at Loeb Stadium to complete a three-game series sweep of the Scots.
The Little Giants (3-2) took control of the opener with a five-run fourth inning and followed with a balanced offensive effort and dominant relief pitching in the nightcap to secure the series sweep.
Game 1 — Wabash 6, Monmouth 1
Wabash broke open a scoreless game with five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and added an insurance tally in the fifth to back a strong start from right-hander
Caleb Everson.
Ben Henke sparked the fourth-inning outburst with a double to right field.
DJ Mendez followed with an infield single before
Will Wallace singled to center to load the bases.
Miles Cvelbar delivered an RBI single to right to score Mendez, and
Bradley Gilliam drew a walk to force in pressure on Monmouth starter Roy Ralston.
Carson Vlcan then delivered the decisive blow, lining a three-run double to right field to score Wallace, Cvelbar and Gilliam. Vlcan advanced to third on a muffed throw, and
Caleb Ellspermann drove him in with a groundout to cap the five-run frame.
Wabash added an unearned run in the fifth. Henke reached on a fielding error and later scored on Cvelbar's RBI single to center.
Cvelbar finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Vlcan went 1-for-1 with a double and three RBIs. Henke added a double and scored once as Wabash totaled seven hits and went 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
Everson (1-0) earned the win, allowing one run on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings with eight strikeouts and no walks.
Trey Pitcock and
Jackson Fronek combined to close out the final 2 2/3 innings, with Fronek striking out three over two scoreless frames.
Monmouth scored its lone run in the seventh on an RBI single by Aidan Parkins, but stranded 11 runners in the contest.
Game 2 — Wabash 5, Monmouth 3
The Scots struck first in the nightcap with two runs in the opening inning and added another in the second for a 3-1 advantage. Wabash answered immediately.
After Henke doubled to open the bottom of the first, Mendez singled him home to cut the deficit to 2-1.
The Little Giants took the lead in the second inning.
Will Fremion and
Bradley Gilliam worked walks, and
Landen Basey delivered a two-run double to left center to score both runners and give Wabash a 3-2 edge.
Wabash extended the lead in the fourth. Ellspermann walked and stole second and third before scoring on McKinzie's RBI single to center.
The final run came in the seventh when McKinzie doubled, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on
Parker Smith's RBI double to center.
Basey finished 1-for-4 with two RBIs, McKinzie went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, and Smith added two hits and an RBI. Wabash collected eight hits and went 4-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
Jarrod Kirsch started and allowed three runs over four innings.
Connor Lambert and
Miles Williams combined for one scoreless inning in relief before
Bryce Haney (1-0) shut down Monmouth over the final four innings, permitting four hits with six strikeouts to earn the victory.
Monmouth totaled 10 hits in each game but left 12 runners on base in the second contest.
With Saturday's twin bill sweep added to Friday night's 15-12 victory over the Scots, Wabash completed a three-game neutral-site series sweep of Monmouth at Loeb Stadium. The Little Giants return to action March 7 at Centre College to open their annual spring break trip.
