Warm ups . . . 

• The Washburn Ichabod softball team will return to action on Tuesday hosting Central Missouri in an MIAA doubleheader before heading out for a four-game trip at Pittsburg State on Saturday and at Missouri Southern on Sunday.

• The Ichabods are in a tie for fifth place in the MIAA standings with Central Missouri as both teams enter Tuesday's twinbill with identical 7-5 records.

• The Ichabods lead the nation in home runs averaging two per game in the latest NCAA standings.

• Washburn has already tied the Ichabod single-season record for home runs with 50 set in 2002.

• Washburn is also second in the nation in slugging percentage at 0.619 and fifth in the nation in scoring at 7.87 runs per game.

• Washburn's Lauren Thimmesch is ranked fourth in the nation in home runs per game (0.52) and fifth in overall home runs in the latest rankings.

• Katie Schroeder is eighth in the nation in triples this season as of the latest NCAA rankings.

 Knowing the foes . . . 

Central Missouri

• The Jennies are 19-13 this season with a 7-5 MIAA mark tied for fifth with the Ichabods in the MIAA standings.

• UCM has won its last two games after sweeping Northeastern State on Sunday winning 2-1 and 16-8 in six innings.

• The Ichabods trail the series with UCM 37-45. The teams split their doubleheader in Warrensburg last season with Washburn winning 6-3 in the opener before falling 13-5 in the nightcap.

Pittsburg State

• The Gorillas are 16-16 overall and 3-7 in MIAA play entering this week. 

• Pitt State is starting an 18-game homestand this week with Lindenwood on April 1. PSU will then host Emporia State on April 4 before hosting Washburn on April 5.

• The Ichabods lead the series 63-49 with the Gorillas and have won four of the last five games.

Missouri Southern

• The Lions are 10-24 and 2-8 in MIAA action entering games this week.

• The Lions have lost six in a row entering an April 2 doubleheader with Lindenwood. MSSU will host Emporia State on April 5 before hosting the Ichabods on April 6.

• Missouri Southern leads the all-time series 38-36. The teams have split regular season doubleheaders the last two years.

 WU Bod Notes . . . 

#2 • Alex Sweeney • Has appeared in seven games this season scoring two runs with two hits and an RBI.

#3 • Kristen Bell • Has nine assists and 32 putouts from her catcher's position.

#4 • Katie Schroeder • Has recorded hits in six straight games and nine of the last 10 games.

#5 • Marina Quimby • Leads the team with 37 hits and a .402 batting average.

#6 • Kaylee Erickson • Has gone 2-4 in the circle with five complete games in 14 starts.

#8 • Jordan Erickson • Fourth on the team with five home runs while driving in 20 runs scoring 19 runs.

#9 • Haylee Marsteller • Batting .343 with 23 hits and 8 RBI starting 24 games this season.

#10 • Deidra Jones • The only Ichabod to have a 2-RBI, a 3-RBI, a 4-RBI and a 5-RBI game this season.

#11 • Samantha Carson • Leads the team with 12 multi-hit games and tied for the team lead with seven multi-RBI games.

#13 • Skyler Gentry • Has made 12 starts appearing in 14 games.

#15 • Leah Garland • Has yet to appear in a game this season.

#16 • Lauren Thimmesch • Her 24 career home runs is tied for fifth at Washburn.

#21 • Bre Hixon • Four of her 10 hits have been for home runs while driving in 17.

#22 • Shelby Erickson • Third on the team with five doubles.

 What's in a name . . . 

• Starting the 2013-14 school year, all of the women's athletic teams will be called Ichabods.

• All women's teams prior to the 2013-14 school year can and will be referenced to as Lady Blues.

• Name change was made to have a unified athletic department and to have a graphical representation of the sports teams at Washburn.

• 'Bods is allowable on second reference

• Lady Ichabods or Lady 'Bods should never be used.

 Last time out for Washburn . . . 

TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabod softball team dropped a doubleheader to No. 9 Emporia State in non-MIAA action falling 5-1 and 4-2. Washburn will return to MIAA play on Tuesday when they will play host to Central Missouri.

Game 1 - ESU 5, WU 1

The Hornets took advantage of an Ichabod error with two outs in the top of the first scoring a pair of runs staking the Hornets to a 2-0 lead. The Hornets added another in the top of the second stretching their lead to 3-0 after two innings. ESU added two more in the top of the fourth pushing its lead to 5-0 after four innings. The Ichabods got on the board in the bottom of the sixth when Lauren Thimmesch singled to left scoring Katie Schroeder who singled earlier in the frame. Washburn was outhit in the opener 8 to 3. Thimmesch had two of Washburn's three hits while pitching three perfect innings in relief striking out three Hornets. Kaitlyn Caston improved to 21-5 for ESU scattering three hits allowing one earned run.

Game 2 - ESU 4, WU 2

In the second game, the Hornets again took advantage of Ichabod miscues scoring two unearned runs in the top of the third pushing out to the 2-0 lead. The Ichabods cut the lead in half with a home run to right by Samantha Carson, her seventh of the season in the bottom of the third. ESU tacked on two more runs on a homer by Stephanie Goodwin increasing the visitor's lead to 4-1 after five innings. The Ichabods came up with one run in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single by Deidra Jones, but left runners at first and second falling short of the comeback win. Thimmesch took the loss (7-4) in the circle allowing two earned runs striking out three allowing seven hits. At the plate Thimmesch had three of Washburn's nine hits. Carson added two hits for the Ichabods.

In the twinbill, Thimmesch finished with five hits in seven at bats while pitching 10 innings with two earned runs for a 1.40 earned run average on the day.

 Ichabod head coach Vanessa Becerra . . . 

• was named the Washburn Ichabod head softball coach on Aug. 3, 2011 after spending four seasons at Metro State in Denver, Colo., with the final season coming as the head coach. 

• is 47-71 in her third season on the bench at Washburn and overall Becerra has recorded a 81-89 mark in her fourth year as a head coach.

• in her lone season as the head coach at Metro State, Becerra led the Roadrunners the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular season championship while advancing to the NCAA regional tournament for the third-straight season finishing with a 34-18 record. 

• has coached six Ichabods to all-MIAA honors.

• has had 25 Ichabods named to the MIAA's Academic Honor Roll.

 Ichabod softball history. . . 

• The Ichabods are 1062-778-1 in their 45th year of softball. 

• The Ichabods have made three NCAA Tournament appearances (1999, 2006, 2008). 

• Washburn won the 2002 regular season MIAA title.

 Up next . . . 

• After facing Central Missouri on Tuesday, Pittsburg State on Saturday and Missouri Southern on Sunday, Washburn will host Rockhurst on April 9 before returning to MIAA play on April 11 and April 12 hosting Northeastern State and Central Oklahoma to end the home schedule.