TOPEKA, Kan. – The Ichabods scored 25 runs off 29 hits in a doubleheader sweep over Bemidji State Thursday afternoon to open the season and give coach Harley Douglas a pair of wins in his debut. Washburn won the opener 20-4 and took the second game 5-1.
 
Washburn, playing its earliest home-opener in school history, will continue action at Falley Field Saturday with a 12 p.m. game against Minnesota-Crookston. The Ichabods open with eight straight games at home.
 
The Bods got things started right away with a 10-run first inning in the opener. David Gauntt hit a two-run home run, Parker Gibson had a two-run single and Tanner Triggs and Kyle Carnahan had RBI doubles to highlight the scoring.
 
They added three more runs in the second inning off a two-run double from Payton Soicher and an RBI single from Riley Krane.
 
Maustin Otterstatter started the opener and pitched four perfect innings before the Beavers finally got a hit and a run in the fifth. He picked up the win with five strikeouts and just one walk through five. Spencer Schwandt and Reed Morton pitched hitless and scoreless innings in relief.
 
Soicher produced Washburn's first run in the second game with a single in the second inning, driving in Tanner Triggs after he doubled to lead off the inning. Connor Crimmins had an RBI double in the third and then Soicher had his fifth RBI of the day off a groundout in the fourth.
 
Mike Hefferan made his debut start for Washburn and allowed a run and three hits through five innings. He struck out four without a walk. Greg Mason and Ryne Dowling pitched scoreless relief the final two innings with Dowling retiring the side in order in the seventh.
 
Soicher ended up with three hits, five RBI and three runs scored in the game, all from the ninth spot in the lineup. Gibson went 6 for 8 with four RBI and three runs scored.