ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Washburn couldn't hold off a ninth-inning charge in game three of its weekend series at Missouri Western, falling 10-9 on Sunday, Feb. 28. Washburn did win the series, 2-1.
WU (7-4, 3-0 MIAA) had eight hits in the game, using an aggressive base running approach on the day that included six stolen bases in eight attempts, but it wasn't enough against a Griffon offense that had 15 hits.
Quentin McGrath started the game for WU, pitching into the seventh inning before
Maustin Otterstatter entered with two runners on and no outs. McGrath finished the game with one strikeout and five runs allowed on nine hits, while Otterstatter threw the seventh and allowed two runs off three hits.
Jaren Kutzke pitched a shutout eighth inning, but the momentum couldn't be carried into the ninth.
Zach Linquist was responsible for the three runs scored after allowing a hit and two walks, but
Dan Gabler (1-2) took the loss after entering with one out in the inning.
Parker Gibson was 1-for-2 at the plate while scoring four runs to go with a home run and two walks, while
Riley Krane (2-for-5) and
Kyle Carnahan (1-for-2, two walks, two RBI) each had triples for WU.
Lance Barkley also had two hits for the Ichabods as he and
Payton Soicher each added two RBI.
MWSU scored three in the first to take an early advantage, using three singles and two sacrifice flies in the inning before WU cut into the lead with three runs in the third.
With one out in the third,
Riley Krane singled and came all the way around to third off a Griffon error before
Parker Gibson walked, putting runners on the corners for
Kyle Carnahan. During Carnahan's at-bat (which ended in a walk), MWSU's Evan Jones was called for a balk, allowing Krane to score and Gibson to take second.
Aggressive base running paid off for the Ichabods the rest of the inning, when after Gibson and Carnahan stole third and second, respectively,
Lance Barkley came through with a clutch two-RBI single into center field to tie things up, 3-3.
Gibson added another run for the Ichabods in the fifth, leading off the inning with his first home run of the season over the center field wall to make it 4-3, but WU wasn't done in the inning. With one out,
David Gauntt was hit by a pitch and moved to second on Barkley's second single of the day. Gauntt then took third as
Tanner Triggs reached on a fielder's choice, and with runners on the corners, two errors on the same play allowed Gauntt to come home for the second run of the day.
In the top of the seventh, Gibson again started a Washburn rally that helped push the Ichabods; lead to four (7-3). Gibson walked to open the inning, stealing second and taking third off a MWSU balk. Gautt then walked with one out, and later in the inning stole second before Triggs drew the third walk of the inning to load the bases for
Payton Soicher. With two outs, Soicher took a pitch back up the middle for a two-RBI single, plating Gibson and Gauntt.
That four-run lead was short lived, however, as MWSU tied things at 7-7 in the seventh thanks in part to a three-run home run.
Washburn, though, was quick to answer with two runs in the eighth, going back on top 9-7. With one out, Krane tripled to left center and Gibson drew another walk, sending Carnahan to the plate, where he had WU's second triple of the inning to push Krane and Gibson home.
MWSU tied the game at 9-9 with a two-run home run, and Washburn couldn't get out of the inning to force extras as Kody Matthews had a walk-off RBI single for the Griffons.
The Ichabods are off until next Friday, March 4 when they open a three-game road MIAA series against Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla.
