NAPERVILLE, Ill. — Wabash College dropped a pair of nonconference baseball games Saturday at Zimmerman Stadium, falling 8-2 to the Milwaukee School of Engineering in the opener before a late North Central College rally sent the Little Giants to a 12-5 loss in the second game.
Wabash (10-24) managed three hits in the opener against MSOE (26-9) and took an early lead before the Raiders scored eight consecutive runs. The Little Giants collected nine hits in the second game and led North Central 5-4 entering the bottom of the eighth inning before the Cardinals (19-16) scored eight times to close out the win.
Wabash opened the scoring in the second inning of the first game. Bradley Gilliam was hit by a pitch to start the inning, moved to second on a ground out by Jimmy Hawksworth and advanced to third when Caleb Ellspermann walked and Jacob Edwards was hit by a pitch. Landen Basey lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to score Gilliam for a 1-0 lead.
MSOE answered with three runs in the bottom half. Kyle Mayberry doubled and scored on an Owen Welch single to left. Robby Erickson, who was hit by a pitch, scored on a sacrifice fly by Jake Franks before Welch later scored on a passed ball to give the Raiders a 3-1 lead.
The Raiders added four runs in the third. Charlie Claas walked, Teo Greco singled, and Aj Le drove both runners home with a triple to right-center field. Camden Hoier walked and later scored along with Le when Erickson reached on an error, stretching the MSOE lead to 7-1.
MSOE scored its final run in the fourth when Franks walked, stole second and third, and scored on an errant throw after the steal attempt.
Wabash scored its second run in the fifth. Kade Buecher walked, Ben Henke singled to left-center, and Parker Smith reached on an error that allowed Buecher to score from third.
Basey, Henke and Smith each recorded one hit for Wabash. Basey drove in the Little Giants' lone earned run. Buecher walked twice and scored once, while Gilliam scored the other Wabash run.
MSOE finished with five hits, including Mayberry's double and Le's two-run triple. The Raiders left one runner on base. Wabash left nine runners on base and did not record an extra-base hit. Both teams committed two errors.
Brendan Boynton took the loss for Wabash, allowing seven runs, six earned, on four hits over three innings. He walked two, struck out one and hit one batter. Nick Wangler worked two innings in relief, allowing one unearned run without giving up a hit. He walked one and struck out four. Isaac Stallings followed with three scoreless innings, allowing one hit with no walks and three strikeouts.
The Little Giants responded with a stronger offensive effort in the second game against North Central.
The Cardinals scored first in the bottom of the first inning when Yuhki Yamada singled, moved to second on a balk and scored on a Payton Diaz single to center.
Wabash tied the game in the second. Will Wallace walked to open the inning and moved to second on a Will McKinzie walk. After Hawksworth's flyout advanced Wallace to third, Aiden Ramsey singled to center to bring home Wallace and even the score at 1-1.
The Little Giants moved in front in the third. Ben Henke walked, advanced to second on a Ryan Williams sacrifice bunt and moved to third when DJ Mendez reached on an error. Wallace followed with a single to left to score Henke for a 2-1 Wabash lead.
North Central tied the game in the fourth after Jackson Bland tripled to right field and scored on Parker Wyatt's sacrifice fly to center.
Wabash reclaimed the lead in the seventh. Will Fremion led off with a double to right-center and stole third. Deagan Kitchel walked before Mendez doubled to left to score Fremion. Wallace followed with a sacrifice fly to center to bring home Kitchel and give the Little Giants a 4-2 lead.
North Central tied the game in the bottom of the seventh. Luke Wallace was hit by a pitch and Peyton Burgh walked. Both moved up on a failed pickoff attempt and Bland doubled to drive in both runners, making it 4-4.
Wabash moved back in front in the eighth. Hawksworth was hit by a pitch, Landen Basey singled and Andrew Sun reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases. Fremion followed with an infield single that scored Hawksworth for a 5-4 lead.
The Cardinals answered with eight runs in the bottom of the eighth. Caleb Smith tripled to start the inning, Yamada was hit by a pitch and Ryan Huskey walked. Caleb Coberley singled to score Smith and tie the game. Yamada scored on a passed ball to put North Central ahead 6-5. Luke Wallace added a two-run double, Burgh singled home Wallace and Bland hit a two-run homer. Andre Medina later singled and scored on a passed ball for the final run.
Wallace led the Wabash offense by going 2-for-2 with two RBIs, a walk, a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly. Mendez finished 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Fremion went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. Ramsey added an RBI single, while Basey and McKinzie each had one hit.
Wabash finished with nine hits, including doubles by Mendez and Fremion, and left 12 runners on base. North Central collected 14 hits and left 11 runners on base. The Cardinals recorded five extra-base hits — doubles by Luke Wallace and Bland, triples by Bland and Smith, and Bland's home run. Wabash committed one error, while North Central committed one.
Adam Gaskill started for Wabash and allowed two runs on four hits over four innings. He walked five, struck out four. Ethan Kimmerle worked one scoreless inning, allowing two hits with two strikeouts. Trey Pitcock pitched two innings, allowing two runs on two hits with one walk, three strikeouts and one hit batter.
Jackson Woehr took the loss, allowing seven runs, six earned, on five hits in one-third of an inning. He walked one, hit one batter and allowed one home run. Luke Mayer recorded the final two outs, allowing one unearned run on one hit with one walk and two strikeouts.
Wabash returns to North Coast Athletic Conference play Tuesday with a doubleheader at DePauw University.
