MARYVILLE, Mo. --- Washburn baseball dropped its series opener to Northwest Missouri on Thursday, 5-1, at Bearcat Field in Maryville, Missouri.

Tanner Triggs and Brett Nickle recorded the only hits of the afternoon for the Ichabods (11-7, 3-4 MIAA).

Nick Silva was credited the loss as he pitched 6.1 innings allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits. Relievers Zach Linquist and Drew Johnson combined for the final 1.2 innings of work.

In the fourth, Triggs broke the scoreless tie as his double to right-center allowed Nickle to cross home after reaching on a single. Northwest Missouri (11-6, 3-4 MIAA) responded in the home half to tie the afternoon affair 1-1.

After pushing across a runner in the sixth to take a 2-1 lead, the Bearcats extended its advantage with a three-run seventh to settle at the final.

The series will close tomorrow with a doubleheader in Topeka with the first game slated for 2 p.m.