LaGrange came into the game riding an eight-game winning streak, then waited along with the Little Giants for just over an hour before taking the field. Wabash avoided a big inning at the start of the game when the Panthers put runners on first and second with only one out before junior pitcher Marc Rowe (West Point, IN/McCutcheon) got a popup on to second and a fielder’s choice to end the LaGrange threat.
The Little Giants couldn’t keep LaGrange off the scoreboard in the fourth inning, however, as the Panthers scored four runs on six hits. Senior Ben Prickel (Lafayette, IN/Harrison) came into the game to shut the door on the Panthers’ scoring barrage, coaxing a popup on the infield to end the inning.
Wabash responded with three runs in the bottom half of the fourth in response to the offensive output by LaGrange. Freshman Danny Schubert (Lebanon, IL/Lebanon) opened the inning with a double down the leftfield line and scored one batter later off a single from the bat of junior Jake Knott (Lafayette, IN/Jefferson). After a one-out walk to Mike Mack (Butler, IN/Eastside), senior Bryson Renbarger (Converse, IN/Eastern) brought Knott home with an RBI single to cut the Panthers’ lead in half. Freshman Jared Martin (Rosedale, IN/Riverton Parke) drew another walk with two outs, followed by a third walk in the inning, this time scoring a run as freshman Jason Jablonski (Poland, OH/Cardinal Mooney) drew the two-out free pass. The Little Giants could not get the tying run across as Patrick McCarthy came into the game for LaGrange to end the Wabash threat.
Wabash mounted another scoring threat in the sixth inning, loading the bases with two outs, but could not tie the game. The Little Giants got a single baserunner in the seventh inning before the inning came to end. The game was called due to darkness after seven innings.
Renbarger finished the game 2-for-3 with an RBI at the plate. Martin was 1-for-2 for the Little Giants, who are 12-14 for the season.
Wabash will travel to Delaware, Ohio this weekend to face the fifth-ranked Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops.