Game Notes (pdf)
Leading Off...
After having their sixth and seventh potential home openers postponed, the Ichabods will get back on the road for four games at Missouri Western.
The Griffons are the defending MIAA champs and are 6-5 this year and 4-2 in the MIAA.
ESU, Washburn's upcoming midweek opponent, is 7-5 and 4-4 and will play at Missouri Southern before hosting WU.
Washburn is 57-56 all-time against MWSU but the Griffons have won 12 straight in the series including all four last year.
ESU leads the series against Washburn 142-65 after taking 2 of 3 last year.
Gauntt leads Washburn with 11 hits, six runs scored and two HRs. He's hitting .423. Last year he hit .188 in 26 games with 13 hits, six runs and one homer.
Ash has a 1.93 ERA in two appearances as Washburn's game one starter. He has 10 strikeouts through 9.2 innings.
Bods head to defending MIAA champion Missouri Western for weekend series then play non-conference game at ESU
The Ichabods will continue action on the road with a four-game MIAA series Sunday and Monday at Missouri Western and then play a non-conference game at Emporia State at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
The MWSU series start date was pushed back two days due to cold weather and the two teams will now play 1 p.m. doubleheaders each day.
Washburn is 4-4 overall and 4-4 in the MIAA. The Ichabods have played all eight games on the road as cold weather and a snow-packed outfield have kept them off Falley Field. The Ichabods went 1-3 in their last action at Central Oklahoma last weekend.
Defending MIAA champion Missouri Western is 7-5 overall and 4-2 in the league. Emporia State is 7-5 overall as well and will play a four-game series at Missouri Southern before hosting Washburn.
Ash Washburn's game one starter after year off from injury
Senior pitcher
Brett Ash made his debut start in Washburn's opener at Lindenwood after a year off from injury and allowed one unearned run off three hits with six strikeouts. He didn't walk any or allow an extra-base hit in the no-decision. He recorded nine straight outs in the final three innings he pitched.
Ash is 0-1 with a 0.93 ERA after losing the series opener at Central Oklahoma last weekend. He allowed just one earned run but gave up three total off three hits and three walks.
Gauntt leads Ichabods at the plate in season-opening series
Catcher
David Gauntt leads Washburn with 11 hits, six runs scored and two home runs. He's second on the team batting .423 and first with a .808 slugging percentage. The junior had just 13 hits and a home run all of last year in 26 games.
Behind the plate he's throw out nine of 23 base stealers.
About Missouri Western
The Griffons are 6-5 overall and 4-2 in the MIAA after sweeping Northeastern State in four and losing two to Northwest Missouri in an abbreviated MIAA series last weekend.
Trevor LaHonta leads the team batting .378 while Jake Schrader has four home runs. Dylan Roades has a perfect ERA and a 1-0 record through six innings of work.
The Griffons went 40-12 last year and won the MIAA with a 28-5 record.
About Emporia State
The Hornets are 7-5 overall and 4-4 in the MIAA. They will play a four-game series at Missouri Southern before hosting Washburn on Wednesday. David Richards entered the weekend leading the team with a .375 batting average while Dean Long has 12 RBI and four home runs. Brenton Higgins has two wins out of the bullpen and a 3.27 ERA in six relief appearances.
Keeping up with the changes
Washburn has had every game moved from its original schedule and all three mid-week non-conference games have been postponed. No makeup dates have been scheduled. With cold weather and a snow-packed field, the Ichabods have missed their first seven scheduled home games.
Washburn's four-game series at Missouri Western this weekend has been back two days to a Sunday-Monday series due to cold weather.
Up Next
Washburn will host Fort Hays State in a four-game MIAA series March 14-15 and then play a non-conference game at Newman on March 18.
