TOPEKA, Kan. --- Washburn baseball saw its offense come together with 12 hits as it took down Northeastern Sate in the series finale, 11-7, on Sunday at Falley Field. WU (10-6, 3-3 MIAA) completed the three-game sweep with six Ichabods recording a RBI and four posting two or more while the team accumulated a total of nine runs batted-in.
Brett Nickle and
Josh Crosby led the way as each finished 3-for-5 at the plate. Crosby accounted for four runs and two RBI while Nickle scored twice and drove in three runs.
Riley Krane had three runs and three walks. Paced by two doubles from Crosby, Washburn collectively finished teh day with four extra base at-bats as Nickle and
Logan Twehous picked a double while
Gabe Franklin reached on a triple.
Josh Ramirez (1-0) got the win, tossing 2.1 innings allowing two runs on three hits. Starter
Jacob Head was credited with the no decision as he pitched five innings surrendered five runs with three earned on four hits while walking three and striking out four.
Maustin Otterstatter and
Marcus McKinney combined to face seven batters allowing one hit during the final 1.2 innings.
After NSU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first, WU responded with two-run double to from Nickle.
The RiverHawks then ascended to a 5-2 advantage behind a three-run homer in the third before tacking on one run in the fourth.
A 1-2-3 sixth inning for NSU batters made way for a Washburn three-run inning. With two outs and bases loaded,
Cole Gardner opened the scoring with a single to drive home Crosby. A throwing error to first then allowed two Ichabods to score on the play to make it 5-5.
A second three-up-three-down inning for Ramirez ushered in a four-run burst for the Ichabods. This time Crosby opened the scoring two a two-run single. After advancing on a passed ball Crosby finished the trip around the diamond as Nickle roped a single to push the WU lead to 8-5. Two batters later Nickle completed his rounds with a RBI double from Twehous.
NSU then ended its three-inning slump in the eighth as it pushed a across a pair of runners to cut the Washburn advantage to 9-7. The Ichabods answered in the bottom half of the inning as a Franklin's lone hit allowed Crosby and Krane to comfortable score and give WU an 11-7 lead.
McKinney closed out the afternoon to secure the Ichabod victory.
Washburn will return to road action next weekend when it makes its first of four trips to the Show Me State for three-game series against Northwest Missouri.
