WARRENSBURG, Mo. --- A lopsided second inning and strong pitching performance from Josh Ramirez allowed the Washburn Ichabod baseball team to cap the 2017 season in winning fashion on Sunday as it topped Central Missouri, 9-2, in the series finale.
 
The bulk of Washburn's (21-28, 12-24 MIAA) scoring occurred in the second as UCM pitchers struggled and were forced to use three arms before getting out of the inning. During the frame the Ichabods cycled through the batting order while registering seven runs on just one hit.
 
The bevy of runs started when Landon Hay drew a bases loaded walk to score Tanner Triggs after he reached after being hit by a pitch to lead-off the inning. Darian Abram then copied Hay as he also drew a walk to keep the bases loaded and push across Cole Gardner. The pitcher miscues for UCM continued Bowe Behymer was plunked allowing JB Eary to make it 3-1.
 
After the Mule pitching change, Central Missouri's woes continued as Riley Krane drew a third bases loaded walk during the inning scoring Hay before a wild pitch granted Abram and Behymer with the opportunity to make it 6-1. The scoring onslaught was then capped as Josh Crosby slapped a single to right center to bringing Krane across to make it 7-1.
 
Abram helped the Ichabods stretch their advantage to 9-1 as he registered a sacrifice fly in the third and one in the fifth, scoring Gardner and Eary respectively. Abram finished the day with three RBI in two official at-bats.
 
With a comfortable lead, Ramirez was able to keep UCM hitters off balance as he surrendered just three hits from the second to the seven innings while leaving three runners stranded. Ramirez was awarded the victory and moved to 4-3 on the season as he scattered five hits in seven innings while conceding just two runs and striking out five. Ryne Dowling and Jaren Kutzke each one inning relief appearances with Dowling working the eight and Kutzke the ninth.
 
The Mules scored once in the first and once in the sixth.
 
Gardner finished the day 3-for-4 from the plate while drawing a walk. Krane Crosby, Clark and Hay also recorded a hit each while Eary drew three walks. Gardner also finished the day with a pair of stolen bases bringing his season total to 14.
 
In addition to being the final game of the season, Sunday's matinee also marked the end of the collegiate careers for Lance Barkley, Kasey Clark, Landon Hay, Cole Gardner, Riley Krane, JB Eary, Maustin Otterstatter, Tanner Triggs, Zach Macke, Marcus McKinney, Ryne Dowling, Nick Silva, Quentin McGrath and Jaren Kutzke.