DePauw capitalized early offensively but was unable to hold off a rally by rival Wabash College, falling 7-5 Wednesday afternoon at Walker Field.
The Tigers took a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, but had no answer for five Wabash runs over the last three innings. DePauw dropped to 7-8 on the season with the loss, while the Little Giants improved to 3-10.
Chris Widup earned the win for Wabash while Andrew Swart was credited with his first save of the season. Meanwhile, junior pitcher Elliot Ross took the loss for the Tigers after relieving junior righthander Andy Manson in the top of the seventh.
Three defensive miscues gave DePauw a 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the first inning. The Tigers put runners on the bases with a pair of hits and another Wabash error in the second, but were unable to score.
The Little Giants picked up an unearned run in the top of the third after Joe Johnson reached on a DePauw fielding error and scored when Manson hit a batter with the bases loaded.
DePauw extended its lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the inning as junior first baseman Rob McPike scored on a triple by leftfielder Jason Cohen, a sophomore.
In the fourth, Wabash added another tally, but the Tigers countered with two more runs on three hits.
Ross replaced Manson midway through the seventh, but the Little Giants scored three runs on sacrifice fly and a double by catcher P.J. Tyson to knot the game at five.
Wabash added a pair of runs in the top of the ninth to capture its first lead of the game at 7-5. Junior third baseman Alex Wright garnered a two-out walk in the bottom of the inning, but a flyout ended the Tigers' hopes of a comeback.
McPike, Cohen and junior second baseman Chris Forbringer all recorded two hits each for DePauw. Cohen also posted two RBI while McPike and sophomore rightfielder Zach Galyean added one each.
Manson allowed two earned runs on six hits through 6.2 innings of work. The righthander also recorded two strikeouts while hitting three batters. Ross allowed one run and four hits while striking out four.
Johnson had two hits for Wabash, as did centerfielder Brian Lares. Tyson posted two RBI, as the Little Giants collected five doubles in the win.
Starter Luke Zinsmaster gave up eight hits and four earned runs over 3.1 innings, and Widup picked up the win after the Little Giants took the lead.
The Tigers open Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play Saturday when they travel to Rhodes.
