Not too far removed from throwing a no-hitter on Monday, the Warsaw pitching staff picked up right where it left off on Wednesday, throwing four hitless innings to begin a Northern Lakes Conference game against Wawasee. The Tigers went on to win the pitcher’s duel 4-0 to remain among the teams leading the NLC.
Tiger hurler Brandt Martin got off to a bit of a rocky start, hitting Wawasee leadoff man Addison Coy on the first pitch of the game. It didn’t take him long to settle in afterwards, as he struck out the next hitter he saw and then used a 6-3 double play to face the minimum in the top of the first.
Warsaw was able to score the first run of the game its first time up to bat, as Grady Nelson hit a laser into the gap in right-center field to score Wyatt Stapleton from first. Nelson ended up on third with a triple and only one out in the inning, but was left stranded.
Martin saw three hitters and retired all of them in the top of the second, giving it right back to the offense. Warrior starter Ryan Mack did the same in the bottom half, striking out two en route to a nice bounce back inning.
Brock Bowser took over for Martin on the mound in the top of the third, and he picked up right where he left off. The senior struck out two of the three hitters he saw to make it eleven straight batters retired in the game.
Rogan Bailey ended that streak with a bunt single for the Tigers in the bottom of the second, but was eventually run down and put out on the basepaths a few batters later. Mack continued to impress on the mound, striking out two more hitters for the third inning in a row to send things to the fourth.

    Wawasee pitcher Ryan Mack looks on as his third base teammate, Kyhan Heisler, tags out Warsaw's Rogan Bailey in the third inning...Nieter

An error by the Warsaw infield allowed Finley Miller to reach base, the first Wawasee batter to do so since the first inning. He’d make it to second on a wild pitch, but no further, as Bowser pitched his second straight scoreless inning to keep it a 1-0 game. The Warsaw offense continued to struggle to get anything started, leading to another quick inning.
Reed Reidenbach finally delivered the Warriors their first hit of the game to lead off the fifth inning. A pitch later, he was standing at second as the ball made it to the backstop. Pitching in perhaps the highest pressure situation of the game so far, Bowser delivered. He retired the next three hitters to strand Reidenbach and keep his team in front.
After being held scoreless since the first inning, the Tigers were able to add on to their lead in the bottom of the fifth. It started with a four-pitch walk to Logan Kim, who proceeded to steal second and third. A bunt by Rogan Bailey brought him home to double the lead. A few hitters later, Nelson came back to the plate with a pair of runners in scoring position. He’d hit a single over the second baseman’s head to bring both home and make it 4-0.
With a bit of run support acquired, some of the pressure was off of Bowser, who turned in an excellent top of the sixth inning. The senior went 1-2-3 to put his team just three outs away from securing the victory. After Mack’s third hitless inning of the game, the Warsaw defense had the chance to shut things down for good.
Quinton Brock was tasked with finishing things off for the Tigers, and after putting the first two Wawasee hitters on, he’d find a groove and get out of the jam while keeping the shut out alive.
Warsaw (11-6, 6-2 NLC) is at Goshen Friday while Wawasee (0-12, 0-8 NLC) is at Mishawaka.