Wabash Splits Doubleheader at Oglethorpe as Hawksworth, Henke Homer in Spring Break Series
ATLANTA — The Wabash College baseball team split a Friday doubleheader against Oglethorpe University during its spring break trip, falling 7-6 in 10 innings in the opener before rebounding for a 13-4 victory in the nightcap at Hermance Stadium.
The Little Giants moved to 5-7 overall with the split and will conclude the three-game series Saturday with a noon matchup against the Stormy Petrels (7-7).
Game One: Oglethorpe 7, Wabash 6 (10 innings)
Wabash built a four-run lead through six innings before Oglethorpe rallied and scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the 10th inning to walk off with a 7-6 victory.
The Little Giants collected nine hits and drew six walks in the opener, led by two hits each from Caleb Ellspermann, DJ Mendez, and Miles Cvelbar. Cvelbar drove in two runs, while Jimmy Hawksworth delivered the highlight with his first career home run.
Oglethorpe struck first in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI double by Ryan Causey to take a 1-0 lead. Wabash responded in the second inning when Cvelbar singled up the middle to score Will McKinzie. Hawksworth followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to give the Little Giants a 2-1 advantage.
Wabash added two runs in the fifth inning. Ellspermann doubled to open the frame and eventually scored on Mendez's RBI single. Cvelbar followed with another run-scoring single to push the lead to 4-1.
Hawksworth extended the margin to 5-1 in the sixth inning with a solo home run to left field, the first of his collegiate career.
Oglethorpe cut into the deficit in the seventh inning, scoring three times on a wild pitch, a sacrifice fly, and a Wabash error to trim the lead to 5-4. The Stormy Petrels tied the contest in the ninth inning on another error that allowed the tying run to score.
Wabash regained the lead in the 10th inning when Bradley Gilliam scored on a fielding error by the Oglethorpe shortstop, giving the Little Giants a 6-5 edge.
The Stormy Petrels answered in the bottom of the inning, scoring two unearned runs on a single by Brick Conway that was misplayed in left field, allowing both the tying and winning runs to cross the plate.
Senior right-hander Caleb Everson started on the mound for Wabash and pitched six innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits with three strikeouts.
Miles Williams worked two-thirds of an inning in relief without allowing a hit before Trey Pitcock pitched two innings and allowed one run, none earned. Nick Wangler took the loss after allowing two unearned runs in two-thirds of an inning in the 10th.
Game Two: Wabash 13, Oglethorpe 4
The Little Giants answered with an offensive outburst in the second game, pounding out 15 hits and scoring 13 runs to secure a convincing victory.
Jimmy Hawksworth continued his strong day with two hits, two runs scored, and three RBIs. Ben Henke also had a standout performance, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs, including his first home run of the season.
Will Wallace added three hits and four RBIs, highlighted by his first collegiate home run and a two-run double, while DJ Mendez contributed two hits and two RBIs.
Wabash opened the scoring in the second inning when Hawksworth launched a two-run home run to left field following an error that put Nate Brumfield on base.
The Little Giants extended the lead to 3-0 in the fourth inning on a solo home run by Wallace.
Wabash added three more runs in the fifth inning on an RBI single by Wallace, a bases-loaded walk by Hawksworth, and another bases-loaded walk to Will Fremion to make the score 6-0.
Oglethorpe briefly closed the gap with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on four hits, including a two-run single by Conway and an RBI double by Evan Smallwood.
The Little Giants responded decisively in the seventh inning, scoring six runs to break the game open. Henke started the rally with a two-run single before Mendez added a two-run single of his own. Wallace capped the inning with a two-run double to left center to give Wabash a commanding 12-4 lead.
Henke added one final run in the ninth inning with a solo home run to left field, his first of the season, to close out the scoring.
Left-hander Jarrod Kirsch started the second game for Wabash and pitched 4? innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits while striking out five.
Freshman Isaac Stallings earned the victory with 2? scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit with two strikeouts. Henry Birk added a scoreless inning, and Brendan Boynton closed the game with a scoreless ninth inning.
Wabash will wrap up its spring break series against Oglethorpe with the final game of the three-game set Saturday at noon in Atlanta.
