GAMBIER, Ohio — Wabash cut into an eight-run deficit with a late charge over the final two innings, but the Little Giants could not fully recover Sunday afternoon, falling 8-5 to Kenyon College in the North Coast Athletic Conference series finale. The loss left Wabash at 9-20 overall and 3-7 in NCAC play, while the Owls improved to 13-17 overall and 2-8 in the conference.
Kenyon seized control in the second inning with four runs. Parker Ellis opened the frame with a single and later scored on Ben Zimmerman's RBI single. Colbie Corpuz came home on a throwing error after Zimmerman stole second and advanced to third, Tyler Nee added an RBI triple, and Gio Giuliani capped the inning with a run-scoring single to right center for a 4-0 Owls lead.
The Owls added two more runs in the fifth to stretch the margin to 6-0. Ben Russell singled, Zack Webber tripled home a run, and Ellis followed with a sacrifice fly. Kenyon pushed the lead to 7-0 in the sixth when Corpuz scored on a wild pitch, then made it 8-0 in the seventh on Trey Kent-Landrum's RBI double to left center that scored Ellis.
Wabash finally broke through in the eighth. DJ Mendez reached on a Kenyon error before Kade Buecher singled, and Bradley Gilliam brought home the first run with a sacrifice fly. Nate Brumfield followed with a single, and Will Fremion doubled to right center to score Buecher. Caleb Ellspermann then drew a walk, and Landen Basey forced in another run with a bases-loaded walk to cut the deficit to 8-3.
The Little Giants kept the pressure on in the ninth. Buecher opened the late rally with a solo home run, and after Jimmy Hawksworth singled, Brumfield ripped a triple to left to drive in another run and trim the margin to 8-5. Kenyon, however, recorded the final out before Wabash could bring the tying run to the plate.
Wabash finished with 13 hits, led by Hawksworth and Brumfield with three apiece. Brumfield scored once, drove in a run, and added a triple, while Hawksworth scored once. Basey went 2-for-3 with two walks, an RBI, and a stolen base. Buecher provided a spark off the bench by going 2-for-2 with two runs scored and a home run. Fremion doubled and drove in a run, and Gilliam doubled, added an RBI, and stole a base.
Jarrod Kirsch took the loss for Wabash after working the first five innings. The sophomore left-hander allowed six runs, five earned, on seven hits with three walks and four strikeouts over 83 pitches. Jackson Fronek pitched one-third of an inning and allowed one run on one hit with a walk, and Trey Pitcock covered the final 2 2/3 innings, permitting one run on two hits with one walk and three strikeouts.
Kenyon starter Theo Canning kept Wabash off the board for the first 2 2/3 innings, allowing one hit with four walks and one strikeout. Jackson Niedel followed with five innings of relief and gave up three runs, two earned, on nine hits while striking out three to earn the bulk of the work out of the bullpen. Chris Cannuscio closed the final 1 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on three hits, including Buecher's home run.
Wabash returns home on Wednesday to face Wittenberg University in an NCAC doubleheader beginning at noon.
