BOLIVAR, Mo. — Washburn used a pair of two-run home runs and a grand slam to win its seventh straight game, taking down Southwest Baptist, 12-3, on Friday, April 8.
Washburn (21-12, 16-7 MIAA) reached double-digits in runs for the 15th time this season, using 10 hits and 10 walks in the rout. The Ichabod pitched staff allowed just three walks for the afternoon and struck out six Bearcats.
Mike Hefferan (5-2) won his third consecutive start on the hill, going five complete innings with two runs (one earned) allowed on five hits and two walks as he struck out three.
Dan Gabler gave up one run in two-thirds of an inning before exiting as
Greg Mason entered to finish the sixth and pitch a scoreless seventh.
Ryne Dowling struck out two in the eighth in relief and
Evan Payne finished the game with a scoreless ninth inning.
Payton Soicher was 2-for-5 on the day with two home runs, picking up six RBI. It was the first six-RBI performance of the season for WU, and the first time since April 17 of last season when
Connor Crimmins achieved the feat against Northwest Missouri.
David Gauntt had a two-run home run as well in his only hit of the day while
Bowe Behymer went 1-for-1 with three walks.
Lance Barkley (3-for-3, walk) and
Riley Krane each had a double and a triple in the game.
Washburn jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first behind Gauntt's 14th home run of the season as the senior catcher drove a 3-1 pitch over the right field fence, bringing Krane (who doubled with one out) home. SBU looked to answer back quickly in its half of the first, loading the bases with one out before Hefferan locked in with back-to-back strikeouts to get out of the jam.
Three more runs came in for WU in the top of the second to push the lead to 5-0 early on. Behymer walked to open the inning and Soicher followed with his seventh home run of the season, going opposite field to left on a 2-0 pitch.
Zane Mapes and
Parker Gibson drew back-to-back walks to restart the rally, and with one out in the inning
Kyle Carnahan reached on a fielder's choice, but on an error during a double-play attempt Mapes was able to race home after taking third safely.
Scoreless for the next inning and a half, the Ichabods tacked on two more in the fourth thanks to a pair of extra base hits and a sacrifice fly. With one out, Gibson doubled to left center before coming home to score on Krane's fifth triple of the season. In the next plate appearance, Carnahan flew out to the center fielder but it was deep enough to score Krane on a sacrifice, making it 7-0.
SBU climbed back to within four (7-3) after a run in the fourth and two runs in the fifth, but Soicher came through in the seventh with his second home run of the day to put Washburn ahead by eight (11-3). With one out, Barkley singled and took second on a wild pitch before a four-pitch walk was issued to
Tanner Triggs, and after Behymer drew a walk of his own, Soicher took the first pitch he saw to right field for a grand slam.
Barkley joined the RBI-club on the day in the eighth, giving Washburn one more run (12-3) off an RBI double that scored Carnahan (who walked earlier in the inning).
Washburn's power at the plate has come alive over the previous two weeks, as the Ichabods now have 20 home runs over the previous eight games and 19 home runs during its current seven-game win streak.
The series concludes on Saturday, April 9 with a 12 p.m., first pitch. Washburn will be looking for its second consecutive weekend series sweep and eighth straight win overall in the game. Live stats will not be available for the game. Stay tuned to @wusports on Twitter for updates throughout the contest.
