JOPLIN, Mo. --- The Washburn Ichabods maintained its advantage after the opening inning en route to topping Missouri Southern, 6-4 and on Saturday to tie the series at 1-1. The favorable WU result snapped the Lions six-game wins streak while improving its season total to 16-10 and moving to 8-7 in conference play.
 
With eight total hits Washburn was paced by the two-hit performances from Brett Nickle and Blake Tomasino, who each finished 2-for-4 at the plate. Nickle was also one of five Ichabod batters to record a RBI.
 
For the second consecutive afternoon WU wasted little time with getting runners across home plate as after Darian Abram tallied the first run of the day. Nickle and Tanner Triggs then added to the Washburn effort as they drove in Riley Krane and Josh Crosby respectively to make it 3-0. Missouri Southern answered in the bottom half of the first as they reduced the lead to 3-1.
 
The Ichabods extended their advantage to 5-1 in the fourth with runs by Tomasino and Cole Gardner. Tomasino scored on a sacrifice fly by Abram after safely reaching on a triple to right center. Gardner reached on his 11^th walk of season before Krane brought him across for his league-best 38^th RBI of season. The Lions again responded, this time with back-to-back home runs to shave the lead to 5-4.
 
That was the closest MSSU came as for the remainder for the afternoon until a late RBI in the eighth by Lonteen lifted the Ichabods back to a two-run margin.
 
As a result of his 5.2 inning of work reliever Jaren Kutzke was credited with the victory. Kutzke was dominate in his performance as held Missouri Southern scoreless and surrendered just one hit while striking out six of the 23 batter faced. Lance Barkley meanwhile received a no decision as he pitched 3.1 innings with four runs on five hits.
 
The two teams will decided a series winner as they return to action tomorrow afternoon in the series finale. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.