LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Wabash College could not overcome an early deficit Sunday as No. 21 Adrian College completed a three-game series sweep with a 6-2 victory over the Little Giants at Loeb Stadium.
Adrian (11-4), ranked 21st in the latest D3baseball.com poll, scored three runs in the opening inning and added insurance runs late to secure the win after sweeping Saturday's doubleheader. Wabash dropped to 5-11 on the season.
The Bulldogs wasted no time taking control. Adrian opened the game with four hits in the top of the first inning, including a run-scoring double by Jack Boike and RBI singles from Gabe Jones and Aiden Melvin to build a 3-0 lead.
Wabash answered in the third inning. Jimmy Hawksworth started the rally with an infield single, and Will Fremion and Caleb Ellspermann each drew walks to load the bases. Freshman Landen Basey delivered the key hit, lining a two-run single to left field to cut the deficit to 3-2.
That would be the final scoring for the Little Giants.
Adrian starter Ambrose Horwath limited the damage after the third inning, allowing two runs on three hits over five innings while striking out four to improve to 4-0 on the season. The Bulldogs' bullpen combination of Lincoln Lipinski and Landon Kozlowski held Wabash to three hits over the final four innings to preserve the lead.
Wabash threatened again in the sixth when Basey singled and advanced to third, but the Little Giants were unable to capitalize.
The Bulldogs extended their lead in the seventh inning when Rolando Jimenez doubled home a run, then added single runs in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Christian Oliver and in the ninth on a sacrifice fly from Jaxon McGuigan.
Aidan McConnell (0-2) took the loss for Wabash despite a solid outing. The senior right-hander worked 6.1 innings, allowing four runs on five hits while striking out eight without issuing a walk. Miles Williams recorded two outs in relief, and Trey Pitcock allowed two runs over the final two innings.
Offensively, Basey led Wabash by going 2-for-4 with two RBIs, accounting for both Little Giants runs. Will McKinzie also finished 2-for-4, while Hawksworth scored a run and added a hit.
Boike paced Adrian with a 2-for-4 performance that included a double, two runs scored, and an RBI. Jimenez also went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, while Melvin contributed a double and a run driven in.
Adrian finished with eight hits and no errors, going 4-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Wabash recorded six hits and committed one error while going 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
The Little Giants stranded six runners and were unable to generate offense after the third inning as Adrian's pitching staff retired 14 of the final 17 Wabash batters to close out the game.
Wabash travels to Anderson University on Wednesday for a 4 p.m. contest.
