Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Season Statistics

EMPORIA, Kan. -- Blake Hageman's first career homer and Brad Alberts five-RBI game helped the Ichabods sweep a doubleheader at Emporia State for the first time since 2000 Friday afternoon. Washburn won the opener 6-2 and took the second game 11-5. With Pittsburg State's loss at Central Missouri, Washburn secured at least sixth place in the MIAA standings and a spot in the MIAA Centennial Baseball Championship.

The two teams will wrap up the regular season Saturday with a doubleheader Saturday at 3 p.m. in Topeka at Falley Field. The game will be Senior Day as Washburn's 10 seniors play their final home games. Washburn (25-21, 21-17 MIAA) is now tied for third in the MIAA with Missouri Southern after the Hornets (25-20, 19-17 MIAA) dropped to fifth and Fort Hays State (19-17) joined them there with a loss against Missouri Western Friday. Washburn will stay in third place with at least one win Saturday and one loss by FHSU in its three remaining games and a loss by MSSU. Two wins would also secure third place for Washburn.

Blaine Matthews led off the sixth inning of game one with a single through the left side and then Hageman hit his first career home run as an Ichabod to break open a one-run game. Washburn added one more in the seventh to make the score 6-2. Brad Alberts walked and then moved to second on a wild pitch and then to third on a grounder by Eric Graff. Marcus Peavler then singled up the middle to give the Ichabods the four-run cushion.

Brett Ash, looking for his sixth win and ninth complete game, let the Hornets load the bases in the bottom of the seventh on an error, hit batter and single. With one out and the tying run at the plate, Joe Vaskas grounded to Matthews at shortstop. He stepped on second base and then threw to Alberts at first to end the game with a double play.

Ash improved to 6-4 as he allowed two earned runs off seven hits. He struck out six and walked none. It was his fourth outting of six or more innings that he didn't allow a walk.

The Ichabods last win in Emporia was on April 17, 2002, in their final game of the series that year. Washburn had lost 16 straight at ESU since then.

Washburn started the game with three hits in the first two innings but all three batters were left on base. Down 1-0 in the top of the third, the Ichabods were able to break through with a run to tie it. John Calhoun walked for the second straight time and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Boone Plager. Alberts then doubled to left field to drive him in.

Ash then retired the Hornets in order in the bottom of the third and the Ichabods took a 3-1 lead with two runs in the fourth. Matthews led off with a double and moved to third on Hageman's first of three hits. He scored on a grounder by Richard Swan. Calhoun later drove Connor Crimmins in with another Washburn double.

The Hornets cut the Washburn lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth and then neither team scored in the fifth. That set up Hageman's homer in the sixth.

Washburn entered the second game having not swept a doubleheader at Emporia State since two 14-13 wins on April 14, 2000.

Washburn kept the momentum with three runs in the first three innings of game two and never trailed. Alberts went 5 for 5 with five RBI setting career highs for hits and runs batted in. He drove in the first run of the game and then hit a three-run homer in the second inning to give Washburn a 7-1 lead. He doubled in the fourth inning and later scored and he had an RBI double in the eighth.

Hageman went 2 for 4 in the second game and ended the day 5 for 7. Washburn out-hit ESU 14-12 in the second game and Tyler Bean had two hits and two RBI. Overall, five Ichabods had multiple hits in the second game.

Kerry Schachenmeyer earned his team-leading seventh win (7-2) as he went the first seven innings on the mound. He allowed two earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and a walk. Joey Hinckley closed out the final 1 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and a run.