The loss was the fourth in five one-run decisions for Wabash this season. The Little Giants are 3-7 overall, with six of their losses decided by a total of eight runs.
Wednesday's game got off to a good start for the Little Giants. Wabash scored two runs in the top of the first on a two-out double to left center by Jake Knott (Lafayette, IN/Jefferson) to score Jake Martin (Rushville, IN/Rushville) and Brandon Candiano (Dyer, IN/Andrean). That's when some defensive miscues allowed DePauw back in the game.
The Tigers scored a run in the second after an infield error to open the inning put Jason Geringer on second. A one-out base hit advanced Geringer to third, where he scored one batter later on an sacrifice fly. Another infield error in the third inning tied the score before both pitchers settled into a grove over the next five innings.
Martin tossed five shutout innings after the Tigers tied the game, only to see DePauw open the ninth with a base hit to left. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second, Jarrett Hunt lifted a single over the infield to score the game-winning run.
The Little Giants had a chance to regain the lead in the fourth inning when Scott Shinkan (Munster, IN/Munster) laced a double to right center to lead off the inning. But the Wabash bats could not find the hit that would bring Shinkan home, going down in order and stranding Shinkan at second.
"We're a good baseball team," said coach Tom Flynn after the game. "We just haven't gotten that one key hit that we need to turn these one-run losses into wins. I am proud of the hard work and effort this team keeps showing in each game. I know that we're going to get that one key play we need to put a win on the board in those close games."
Martin pitched 8 1/3 innings for the Little Giants, allowing only one earned run and striking out two. He falls to 1-3 on the season with the loss.
Wabash will play Kalamazoo College in a three-game series over the weekend. The two teams will play a double-header at Crawfordsville High School on Friday night before playing a single game on Saturday at Mud Hollow Field. First pitch on Friday is slated for 6 p.m.