LEADING OFF -- Washburn looks to snap a four-game slide as it hosts conference foe Northeastern State in a three-game set at Falley Field ... the series will begin on Friday at 3 p.m. with remainder of games to be played Saturday (1 p.m.) and Sunday (12 p.m.).
NSU SCOUTING REPORT -- The RiverHawks come to Falley Field at 9-3 on the year riding a four-game win streak ... Northeastern State opened its conference slate by sweeping Northwest Missouri at home ... the NSU lineup features 17 upperclassmen including 10 seniors ... Dylan Adams, Jordan Payne and Dakota Woods share the lead in various offensive categories ... on the mound, WU can expect to see Hunter Neal and Nolan Sturgeon they each have two wins while combining for 27.2 innings ... Hunter leads the pitching staff with 13 strikeouts through three starts.
THE WEEK THAT WAS -- Washburn was swept by Missouri Western last weekend as it opened conference play at Falley Field ... WU fell 8-6 in game one before the Griffons escaped with games two and three thanks to late runs.
SERIES HISTORY -- Prior to this weekend's showdown Washburn has faced Northeastern State just 16 times since its initial meeting during the 1989 season ... WU trails the all-time series 11-5 ... the Ichabods are 1-2 when hosting NSU ... last season WU traveled to Tahlequah, Okla., claiming one of three games.
'BODS & ENDS -- Riley Krane is tied for most RBI in the MIAA (23) ... Kasey Clark and Bowe Behymer also among league leaders as the duo share third in the hit by pitch category (6) ... Josh Crosby and Brett Nickle are among a 7-way tie in the MIAA for sixth-most doubles (6) ... Jacob Head and Lance Barkley are among the MIAA's top in ERA with Head tied for seventh (1.91) and Barkley coming in at ninth (2.22) ... Nick Silva's 25 strikeouts is tied for third-most among conference pitchers.
FALLEY FIELD -- The official home of Ichabod baseball since opening in 1990 ... Falley Field features a FieldTurf surface for the infield and grass for the outfield with dimensions of 330 feet to the left and right field and a distance of 400 feet to center ... in the previous 26 seasons, Washburn has put together an overall record of 363-251 including a 21-10 mark during the 2000 season ... with a listed capacity of 800, Falley Field has welcomed 20,771 cheering fans over the course of the last three seasons.
THE 'BODS ROADSHOW -- The Ichabods closed their season opening 11-game road swing with a 8-3 record including a 4-1 tally in neutral venues ... as a result of their early travels WU has logged approximately 2,736 miles while having ventured to three states.
WHERE THEY RANK -- Behind one first-place vote, the Ichabods open the season ranked fifth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll ... WU placed eighth in the NCBWA's Division II Preseason Regional Rankings ... the only recognition the team earned nationally was from Collegiate Baseball News where they were listed in the receiving votes category.
PRESEASON HARDWARE -- Nick Silva has headlined the list of early awards for the Ichabods this season ... early honors for Silva include an ABCA Division II Preseason All-America nod as well as a Division II All-Central Region First Team selection from the NCBWA ... senior shortstop Riley Krane was placed on the ABCA Division II Players to Watch list ... sophomore outfielder Curtis Whitten was amongst those listed as a Division II Newcomer to Watch by the ABCA.
'BODS IN THE SHOW -- Washburn baseball has been home to many talented alumni with some being able to take their talents to the Majors ... to date, their have been seven former Ichabods who have played for an MLB club including Ken Berry, Rick DeHart, Jim Golden, Jerad Head, Davey Lopes, Jerry Robertson and Steve Simpson.
UPDATES & MORE -- Fans can fellow every pitch of the 2017 season via live stats available by visiting wusports.com/live ... for in-game updates, news and more be sure to also follow Washburn athletics on Twitter (@wusports) and Facebook.
WHERE THEY FROM -- The 2017 baseball team is comprised of 41 members hailing from 12 states. There are 22 players from Kansas, five from Colorado, four from Missouri, two from Illinois and one each representative from California, Iowa, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin.
70TH SEASON -- The 2017 campaign marks the 70th anniversary of the first season of Ichabod baseball ... the program however took a six-year hiatus from 1951-56 due to world events ... the program returned in 1957 under the leadership of Washburn's first baseball coach, Marion McDonald.
2016 REVIEW -- In 2016, Washburn added two more wins to its overall record from the season before to finish 34-20 with a 26-13 mark in conference play. After going 14-12 in the first half of the year, the Ichabods hit their its stride as they rattled off 20 wins during its final 28 games including a 15-1 stretch from March 30- April 24. At the conclusion of the season, eight Ichabods received All-MIAA accolades. The selections were headlined by David Gauntt and Nick Silva who not only were placed on the first team, but were named MIAA Player and Pitcher of the Year respectively. Kyle Carnahan also landed first team honors, while Riley Krane and Parker Gibson were third team selections. Greg Mason, Jaren Kutzke and Lance Barkley were each named honorable mentions. Silva went on to garner numerous all-region team accolades. Gauntt meanwhile earned All-America honors from D2CCA and NCBWA before being selected in the MLB Amateur Draft (Rd. 18, Pick 533) by the Miami Marlins.
