LEADING OFF
• Washburn baseball resumes the 2018 edition Turnpike Tussle feud with Emporia State On Wednesday with game two at Falley Field.
• The Ichabods look to snap a six-game skid.
• First pitch from Falley Field is scheduled for 6 pm.
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
• At the plate, the Washburn hitters' 10 doubles this season tied for second-most among MIAA leaders, while listed third in hit by pitch (42).
• Collectively, WU is hitting .253 on the year, and .248 against MIAA.
• Once on the base path, the Ichabods are eighth among the MIAA in stolen base percentage (72.2), while named fifth in stolen bases (52) and fourth in stolen base attempts (72).
• On the mound, the WU pitching staff has a collective 5.78 ERA with 222 strikeouts ... three shutout wins this season are the most amongst the MIAA, while its 300.2 innings are fifth-most.
• The Washburn defense tops the MIAA in assists (386), double plays turned (30) and caught stolen bases (23).
• Josh Crosby is among the MIAA's top 20 for season stats in doubles (t8, 12), home runs (t10, 8), RBI (t16, 29) and slugging percentage (20th, .559) ... has 11 multi-hit games this season and eight games with multiple RBI.
• Darian Abram is among the top MIAA hitters to reach base via as he's tied second in hit by pitch (12) and fourth in walks (25), as a result his .470 on-base percentage is eighth among league leaders.
• With 16 stolen bases this season, Javis Larson is fourth among the conference's leaders, while his 22 attempts is second-most.
• Josh Ramirez is among the top arms in the MIAA as he's sixth in ERA (3.00), fifth in innings worked (60.0), and eighth in opponent batting average (.242).
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 EMPORIA STATE
• The Hornets are 19-15 on the year and 10-11 in the MIAA, where they are eighth.
• ESU is 7-4 on this season when playing on the road.
• Bryce Fisher is the team leader in batting average (.423), hits (58), doubles (11), home runs (10), RBI (41), slugging% (.737), and on-base% (.503).
• Collectively, ESU is hitting .297 on the year with 246 runs on 350 hits with 27 home runs and 173 walks.
• ESU pitchers have a combined 5.24 ERA with 287 strikeouts and 97 walks. The pitching staff has surrendered 216 runs on 373 hit during 306.0 innings of work.
SERIES HISTORY
• Since 1949, Washburn has faced Emporia State 231 times, and trail the series 74-157.
• The Ichabods grab a 1-0 series lead on March 28 with a decisive 9-1 victory at Glennen Field in Emporia.
• The last Washburn win at Falley Field against Emporia State was a 9-2 decision on April 19, 2016.
FALLEY FIELD
• The 2018 season marks the 29th season the Ichabods have called Falley Field home since it first opened prior to the 1990 campaign.
• Entering the year, the Ichabods are 370-262 (.591) at Falley Field.
PRO 'BODS UPDATE
• Former Washburn hurler Brett Ash (2010-12, 14) continues his baseball career as a member of the Seattle Mariners' organization ... Ash is currently participating in extended spring training but is set to join Double-A affiliate, Arkansas Travelers.
• Former Ichabod backstop David Gauntt (2013-16) continues his professional career in 2018 as a member of the Miami Marlins' organization ... Gauntt spent the 2017 season with Short-A affiliate, Batavia Muckdogs.
• Former Ichabod slugger Riley Krane (2014-17) returns to action with the Windy City Thunder Bolts in 2018 ... Krane signed with the Frontier League club in 2017 and batted .321 with 22 runs, 15 extra base hits and 26 RBI in 42 appearances. The season opener for Krane and the Thunder Bolts is May 10.
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).
