Wabash earned it 14th victory of the season with the nine-inning win. Last season, the first under head coach Tom Flynn, the Little Giants finished 13-24.
The Little Giants took a 3-1 lead in the second inning when freshman Tyler Nance (Celebration, FL/Celebration) smashed a three-run homer over the left-center field fence. After Denison cut the lead to one, senior co-captain Bryson Renbarger (Converse, IN/Eastern) hit his second home run of the season to put Wabash in front 4-2.
Denison responded with a run in the fifth, but Wabash would continue to hold the lead until the sixth inning. The Big Red plated two players to take a 5-4 lead, only to see Wabash come back with a run in the bottom half of the inning. Sophomore Mike Mack (Butler, IN/Eastside) opened the inning with a walk, then raced to third when Renbarger's sacrifice bunt led to a throwing error by Denison. The Big Red turned a double play on the next play to bring Jared Martin (Rosedale, IN/Riverton Parke). Martin bounced a single through the right side to tie the game at 5-5.
Denison scored in the top of the seventh inning to again take a one-run lead, only to see the Little Giants tie the score again in their turn at bat. Junior Jake Knott (Lafayette, IN/Jefferson) opened the innning with a double, then scored with two outs on an RBI single by Renbarger.
Wabash scored the game-winning run in the eighth inning on a single by Martin, a sacrifice by Nance, a single by Danny Schubert (Lebanon, IL/Lebanon), and a fielder's choice by junior Jake Martin (Rushville, IN/Rushville).
With a one-run lead in the ninth, the heroics were not over for Wabash. Denison loaded the bases with one out when freshman Judd Crowgey (Salem, OH/Salem) came on in relief of senior Ben Prickel (Lafayette, IN/Harrison). Crowgey got Denison's Brett Moss to ground back to the mound, setting up the double play. Crowgey threw home to Knott, who fired the ball down to first base, but hit Moss in the left shoulder with the ball. Moss was in fair territory when he was struck, completing the double play and giving the Little Giants their second consecutive win.
Prickel earned his second victory of the season, working three innings of relief for starter Bill Goff (Brownsburg, IN/Brownsburg). Prickel gave up only one run on five hits. Crowgey earned his third save of the season.
Renbarger and Jared Martin were both 2-for-3 for the game. Nance was 2-for-2 with three RBIs.
Wabash (14-19, 2-5 NCAC) will play the University of the South on Friday at 2 p.m. at Mud Hollow Field.