TOPEKA, Kan. -- A pair of late-game rallies were not enough as the Washburn softball team was swept by No. 15-ranked Missouri Western on Friday at the Washburn Softball Complex. Washburn returns to action wrapping up the regular season with Northwest Missouri starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Game 1 - Missouri Western 4, Washburn 1
Washburn trailed 4-0 after four innings, but a lead off home run in the bottom of the seventh by Lacie Myers gave the Ichabods a chacne. After Haylee Marsteller drew a walk and moved to third on a single by Ashley Ruder putting the tying run at the plate, the Griffons struck out the next two Ichabod batters ending the threat and the game.
Marina Quimby and Marsteller each had two hits in the first game as Washburn outhit the Griffons 8 to 7, but the Griffons had two home runs in the game.
Samantha Carson scattered four hits striking out two falling to 10-10 on the season. The Griffons' Janie Smith struck out 11, walking one improving to 19-8 this season. 
Washburn left eight runners on in the opener.

Game 2 - MWSU 11, WU 4
Again the Griffons (37-11, 21-3 MIAA) jumped out to an early lead going up 7-0 before the Ichabods (19-25, 8-16 MIAA) cut the margin to three after scoring four runs in the bottom of the fifth but the Griffons pulled away late in the 11-4 win.
In the fifth, Ashley Ruder reached on a sinlge followed by a single by Cassidy Merriman and both scored on a 3-run homer by Taylor Zimmerman. Sierra Kemp, Lacie Myers and Marsteller all singled scoring one more run on her RBI single to center, but a ground out ended the scoring for the Ichabods.
Ashley Wills took the loss in the game dropping to 8-12 on the season striking out two allowing five earned runs. Zimmerman finished with three hits and Ruder had two to pace the Ichabods 11-hit attack. The Ichabods finished with 10 runners left on base in the nightcap.