LEADING OFF
• Washburn baseball returns to the road with a three-game MIAA series against Missouri Western in St. Joseph.
• The Ichabods are 6-10 on the year after going to 1-2 against No. 17 Central Missouri.
• The weekend set will begin a six-game road swing for the Ichabods will play a total of 10 games on the road in the month of March.
WHERE TO FOLLOW
• Fans can fellow every pitch of the 2018 season via live stats available by visiting wusports.com/live or the team's schedule page ... for occasional in-game updates, news and more be sure to follow Washburn Athletics on Twitter (@wusports) and Facebook ... fans should also be on the look out for all new baseball/softball coaches' show featuring head coach Harley Douglas.
ICHABOD NOTABLES
• Darian Abram has reached base at least once in since opening day and holds the team lead at 16 games.
• Jake Hahn has each reached base at least once in each of the last 10 games (Feb. 16 - Mar. 4).
• Javis Larson's season-high bases reached streak was snapped at 12 games.
• Josh Crosby has a season-best five game hit streak (Feb. 1-9) and has a team-best seven multi-hit games with multiple RBI five times.
• Larson is 9 for 12 on steals this season.
• Josh Ramirez is the reigning MIAA Pitcher of the Week after his dominating performance in the series opener against No. 17 UCM.
• Ramirez leads the pitching staff in innings pitched (28.1) and strikeouts (22).
• Ichabods pitchers have a collective 5.08 ERA.
• WU has out scored opponents, 28-26, during the final three innings including a 13-6 margin in the ninth.
• This season, Washburn has turned 14 double-plays.
THE SKIPPER
• Harley Douglas is in his fourth season as the Ichabods' head coach.
• Douglas' career record to begin the year was 88-68.
• Lead Washburn to consecutive (2015 & 2016) 30-wins seasons for the first time nearly three decades.
• Coached Miami Marlins' draft pick David Gauntt (2016, Rd. 18)
• Had the MIAA Pitcher and Player of the Year in 2016.
• Douglas is the first former Ichabod baseball player to be named head coach of the program ... he played under predecessor Steve Anson from 1997-2000.
• Set the single-season hits record in 2000 (88) en route to earning MIAA honors.
• Former member of the New York Mets minor league system.
SCOUTING MISSOURI WESTERN
• The Griffons enter the weekend at 7-9 overall and 0-3 in the MIAA.
• MWSU won its series (2-1) last week against then-No. 16 Southern Indiana.
• Missouri Western has been outscored this season 101-82 and has 35 fewer hits (152-117) than opponents.
• The Griffons are among the Top 20 in Div. II in double plays turned (13th, 16) and sacrifice bunts (3rd, 19).
• Dusty Stroup leads the team in hits (18), average (.281) and RBI (14).
• Fahd Shakeel is fifth in the nation in sacrifice bunts (5).
• Head coach Buzz Verduzco is in his 19th season with MWSU and began the season with a career record of 533-390.
SERIES HISTORY
• Prior to this weekend's series, Washburn and MWSU have met 129 times dating back to the 1970 season.
• The Ichabods lead the all-time series, 66-63, and were swept last season at home.
• Since 2015, WU is 4-1 when facing MWSU in St. Joe.
PRO 'BODS UPDATE
• Former Washburn hurler Brett Ash (2010-12, 14) continues his baseball career as a member of the Seattle Mariners' organization ... Ash, who's second in program-history in strikeouts (199), is set to begin his second season with the Mariners' Double-A affiliate, Arkansas Travelers.
• Former Ichabod backstop David Gauntt (2013-2016) will continue his professional career in 2018 as a member of the Miami Marlins' organization ... in 2017, Gauntt spent the season with Short-A affiliate, Batavia Muckdogs.
• Former Ichabod slugger Riley Krane (2014-2017) returns to the Windy City Thunder Bolts ... Krane signed with the Frontier League club after the 2017 season and batted .321 with 22 runs, 15 extra base hits, and 26 RBI in 42 appearances.
WASHBURN BASEBALL HISTORY
• The Washburn baseball program began in 1947.
• There was no Ichabod baseball from 1951-56 ... the program returned in 1957 under the direction of Marion McDonald.
• In 1985, head coach Steve Anson recorded the program's first 30-win season as went 33-20.
• 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 six former Ichabods who have played a regular-season or playoff game for an MLB club including George Darrow, Rick DeHart, Jerad Head, Davey Lopes, Jerry Robertson and Steve Simpson.
• Six Ichabods have been chosen in the MLB Amateur Draft with catcher David Gauntt being selected most recently (Miami Marlins, 2016, Rd. 18).
