MT. CARMEL, Ill. -- Down by nine runs early against Southwestern, Wabash Valley staged a furious rally to get back into the game. Twice, the Warriors managed to get the tying run to the plate.
But they would get no closer, as the Blue Storm held on for a 12-8 Great Rivers Athletic Conference baseball victory on Thursday, snapping No. 1-ranked Wabash Valley's 18-game winning streak.
"We just did not get it done today. We did not get good pitching and did not hit enough. That is the way it goes sometimes," said a stoic coach Aaron Biddle afterwards.
Once they stopped digging the 11-2 crater they put themselves in after 4 1/2 innings, the Warriors started to climb their way out. Six runs in the bottom of the fifth was a huge spark, closing to within a manageable 11-8 deficit.
Even though a double play cut short what could have been a bigger fifth and runners were stranded in the sixth (2), seventh (1), and eighth (2), Biddle was nonetheless impressed by the rally effort of his club down the stretch.
"Our guys are tough," Biddle said. "There have been a couple of times (this season) we have been down a lot and could have rolled over. But we fought back and gave ourselves a chance.
"That is what I love about this group. They do not quit fighting. They keep scrapping and try to find ways to win."
Southwestern (41-12, 19-6) hit the Warriors up for four runs in the first inning and three more in the second for a quick 7-0 lead.
After WVC (44-10, 22-3) put up single tallies in the second (on a Mack Mitchell RBI single), and fourth (a Zamaurion Hatcher RBI double), the Blue Storm answered with the game's biggest blow in the top of the fifth. Nick Varon hit his seventh home run of the season – a grand slam no less – that put the visitors ahead by an improbable 11-2.
If they were shell-shocked at that point, the Warriors certainly did not show it. They responded with six runs of their own in the home half to get right back into contention.
Richard Bonomolo, Jr. led off with a home run (his seventh), Jorge Rodriguez added an RBI single, then John Legrande brought in two runs with a single and suddenly it was 11-6 and the home dugout was coming alive. Mitchell's two-run hit completed the six-run outburst, all achieved with nobody out.
Southwestern added a solo home run in the ninth from Wilser Then (No. 10 on the year) to account for the final of 12-8.
Mitchell ended with a game-high total of four hits. Bruce Jellison added three, and Nick Williams two. Legrande and Mitchell led with two RBIs apiece.
Jacob Frost took the loss, falling to 7-2. He worked the first four innings, Aidan Deakins the following three, and Luke Leverton the final two innings.
The regular season concludes Saturday with a 12-noon CDT doubleheader at Southwestern. The Region 24 tournament is next, and Wabash Valley, having already clinched the top seed, will host one of two four-team double-elimination tournaments starting on Thursday. Seeds No. 4,5, and 8 will be at Fournier Field as well.