Box Score | Season Statistics

TOPEKA, Kan. -- Both pitching staffs combined for 25 strikeouts but the Ichabods fell 5-2 Wednesday to Rockhurst in their home opener at Falley Field.

Washburn dropped to 2-3 and will take the weekend off and then continue action at home Tuesday with a 3 p.m. game against Newman. Rockhurst improved to 2-1.

Mark Biesma had a solid outting in his first career start for Washburn. He gave up three runs, two earned, off three hits over five innings.He gave up a walk and then an RBI triple to open the game and Rockhurst led 2-0 after an inning. The Hawks scored an unearned run in the second before Washburn got on the board in the bottom of the third. Tyler Bailey reached on a two-base throwing error by the shortstop and then he scored when Blaine Matthews singled up the middle.

That was the only run Rockhurst starter Mark Sappington gave up. He struck out 11 through six innings and gave up two hits and walked none.

Brett Ash relieved Biesma in the sixth inning and gave up a run in the seventh. Washburn got it back on an RBI groundout from Brent Matile that scored John Calhoun. The Hawks got another run in the eighth and shut Washburn out the final two innings. The Ichabods had the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth after Bean walked and Matile singled but the Ichabods couldn't convert.

Ash recorded six strikeouts in four innings of relief. Biesma took the loss (0-1) and Sappington got the win (2-0). Josh Tols pitched the final three innings for Rockhurst to earn a save, his second of the year.

Washburn had left just two runners on base until the final inning. The Hawks stranded seven runners in the game. Rockhurst finished with eight hits as a team and its two pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts. Washburn had five hits and 10 strikeouts.

Calhoun ended up with two hits for Washburn and the Hawks got a pair of hits from T.J. Dailey and Anthony Davis.