The Denison University baseball team dropped a North Coast Athletic Conference doubleheader to Wabash College on Saturday in Granville. DU suffered a 13-5 setback in game one and dropped 5-4 decision in eight innings in the nightcap.

The twinbill sweep was a blow to the Big Red's chances of earning one of the four sports in next weekend's NCAC Tournament. However, Denison is still alive with several conference games remaining around the league.

After five complete innings, game two entered into a rain delay that lasted an hour and 40 minutes. Coming out of the delay, Big Red senior Bob Giarratani entered in relief of classmate Dale McOsker. Giarratani retired the side in both the sixth and seventh frames to keep DU in the contest.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Big Red made it a 4-3 game on an RBI single by Kyle Clemmenson. In the next inning, senior Peter Krieger tied the game with a two-out single to center field that plated Matt Forgatch.

With two outs in the eighth, Joe Johnson slapped a base hit through the left side that pushed across the go-ahead run. The Big Red got the lead-off runner on base in the bottom of the frame, but a pair of fielder's choice outs quickly put Denison behind the eight ball. With two down, Wabash reliever Chris Widup struck out the final batter of the game.

Giarratani took the loss after giving up one run on two hits in three innings. McOsker gave up four runs (one earned) on seven hits in five frames. Josh Butler logged two hits, while Forgatch scored a pair.

The Little Giant bats came alive in the opener as they scored runs in bunches. Wabash plated four in the first frame, two in the third and fifth and a five spot in the fourth en route to the 13-5 victory. Forgatch tied the school's single-season record for triples (6) in the first inning, while Clemmenson hit a two-run homer in the sixth.

Clemmenson went 4-for-7 on the day with a home run, four RBIs and two runs scored.   Forgatch and Tim Duxbury each logged two hits in the opener. Junior Tyler Vaske suffered the loss in game one after allowing seven runs (six earned) on eight hits with four strikeouts in three innings of work.

With their hopes of an NCAC Tournament berth still alive, Denison (16-20, 8-7 NCAC) will attempt to reschedule their final conference game with Wooster early next week.

In between games the Denison baseball program recognized the contributions of their seven-member senior class. Matt Forgatch, Kevin Teague, Bob Giarratani, Peter Krieger, Freddy Marino, Dale McOsker and Nick Smith all played in their final home game this afternoon.