TOPEKA, Kan. – Washburn built a 4-2 lead in the middle innings and hung on the rest of the way to secure a win in the midweek series finale against Fort Hays State on Tuesday, April 5.
Maustin Otterstatter (1-1) went five complete, allowing two runs off of five hits and a walk while striking out two.
Greg Mason pitched the next three innings in scoreless fashion, allowing just one walk and one hit with two strikeouts before
Lance Barkley earned his third save of the season by throwing a scoreless ninth.
Barkley was the team's leader at the plate as well, going 2-for-3 with an RBI, a walk and a double in the game.
Bowe Behymer also had a double for the Ichabods on a windy day at the field, while
Tanner Triggs and
Zane Mapes came up with WU's other hits. Mapes was also hit by two pitches in the game, as were Behymer and
David Gauntt.
Down 1-0 after an RBI single in the top of the first, Washburn used a walk and three hit-by-pitches in the bottom of the second. Gauntt was hit by a pitch in the first at-bat before Barkley walked, and after an out Behymer and Mapes were hit in consecutive appearances to plate Gauntt.
FHSU regained the lead in the top of the third behind an RBI double, 2-1, and WU answered again in the bottom of the fourth. After Barkley's one-out double to left center (WU's first hit of the day),
Tanner Triggs hit a line drive single into right and Barkley raced home.
WU took its first lead of the day with a pair of runs in the fifth, taking advantage of three hits, three walks and a wild pitch. Walks from Gibson and Carnahan sandwiched the first out of the inning for the Ichabods, and a double steal on a ball that bounced in the dirt put both runners in scoring position. A wild pitch during Gauntt's plate appearance allowed Gibson to race home, and after another walk put runners on the corners for Washburn. Barkley then looped a single into right center than fell between three converging defenders and Carnahan came home for the fourth, run of the day.
That two-run lead held up the rest of the way as neither team could put together a rally though both schools had baserunners in the eighth.
The Ichabods travel to Bolivar, Mo., this weekend for a three-game series at Southwest Baptist, April 7-9.
