ATLANTA — The Wabash College baseball team built an early lead Saturday but could not contain a late offensive surge by Oglethorpe University, falling 15-4 in the series finale at Hermance Stadium. The game ended after seven innings due to the 10-run rule, giving Oglethorpe a 2-1 edge in the three-game series during the Little Giants' spring break trip.

Wabash dropped to 5-8 on the season, while Oglethorpe improved to 8-7.

The Little Giants struck quickly in the opening inning. Freshman Landen Basey opened the game with a double down the third-base line before moving to third on a sacrifice bunt by Bradley Gilliam. Senior shortstop Ben Henke followed with a double down the third-base line to drive in Basey for the game's first run. After a single by catcher Will McKinzie put runners on the corners, first baseman Will Wallace lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Henke and give Wabash a 2-0 advantage.

Wabash added another run in the second inning. Center fielder Will Fremion doubled to left field and eventually scored when Henke drew a bases-loaded walk, extending the Little Giants' lead to 3-0.
Oglethorpe answered in the bottom of the second when Jace Armstrong crossed the plate on a throwing error to trim the lead to 3-1.

The Little Giants regained momentum in the fourth. Carson Vlcan reached on a walk and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Fremion. Gilliam followed with a single to center field to drive in Vlcan and push the lead to 4-1.

Oglethorpe rallied in the bottom of the inning to take the lead. Armstrong delivered an RBI single, and a fielder's choice by Will Weaver drove in another run. Nick Morgan tied the game with an RBI single before Cade Eidam followed with another run-scoring single. A wild pitch later in the inning allowed Morgan to score, completing a five-run outburst that put the Stormy Petrels ahead 6-4.

The decisive blow came in the fifth inning. Oglethorpe erupted for nine runs on eight hits, highlighted by RBI singles from Brick Conway, Morgan, Trey Kinnan, and Weaver, along with a run-scoring double by Evan Smallwood and a sacrifice fly from Armstrong. The surge pushed the Stormy Petrels' lead to 15-4 and triggered the eventual run-rule decision.

Henke led the Little Giants offensively, finishing 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a double. Basey went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored, while Fremion added a double and scored a run. Gilliam collected a hit and an RBI, and Wallace drove in a run with his first-inning sacrifice fly. Wabash finished with eight hits and four runs in the contest.

On the mound, senior right-hander Aidan McConnell started for Wabash and took the loss, allowing six runs (five earned) on five hits with one walk and two strikeouts over 3? innings. Jackson Fronek recorded one out in relief, issuing a walk and allowing two hits before exiting. Junior Ethan Kimmerle was charged with six runs in one-third of an inning, surrendering five hits and a walk. Nick Wangler worked one inning, allowing three runs on three hits with one strikeout. Senior Jackson Woehr closed the game with a scoreless sixth inning, giving up two hits without allowing a run.

Oglethorpe's lineup produced 17 hits in the game, with Armstrong going 3-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBIs. Eidam, Morgan, and Weaver each drove in two runs as the Stormy Petrels capitalized on their big middle innings.

Wabash returns to Indiana to continue its season Tuesday with a 6 p.m. game at Earlham College.