TOPEKA, Kan. – The Washburn Ichabod softball team swept Southwest Baptist winning 8-0 behind a one-hit shutout by Megan Deiter in five innings in the opener and out-lasted the Bearcats in eight innings in the nightcap as Taylor Kirk's walk-off, lead-off home run in the bottom of the eighth sent Washburn home with a pair of wins completing the rally in the second game. The Ichabods (36-9, 20-2 MIAA) will wrap up the regular season with four games at home starting with Missouri Western on Friday followed by senior day on Saturday against Northwest Missouri.
 
Game 1 – Washburn 8, Southwest Baptist 0 (5 innings)
Deiter improved to 16-0 in the circle with six strikeouts in the game and Washburn scored four runs in the second to cruise to the win. After a lead-off single by Brianna Francis and a walk by Kirk (who walked three times in the game), Maddie Anderson drew a free pass and after Ashley Ruder was hit by a pitch sending Francis home, Lexie Myers singled scoring Kirk. An RBI single by Emilee Baker scored Ruder and Savannah Moore also drew a bases-loaded walk scoring Lexie Myers.
 
In the fourth, the Ichabods scored once on a double steal with Samantha Stallbaumer coming home as Baker took second to put Washburn up 5-0.
 
In the fifth, Lenae Salinas singled and then moved to second on Kirk's third walk of the day. Anderson singled and then Lexie Myers double down the left field line scored both Kirk and Anderson putting runners on first and third. Southwest Baptist then used seven infielders leaving only outfielders in right center and left center and Stallbaumer lifted a ball into left field gap for a single sending the game-winning run clinching the 8-0 win over the Bearcats.
 
Game 2 – Washburn 4, Southwest Baptist 3 (8 innings)
Taylor Kirk's lead-off home run in the eighth was the difference as the ball cleared the center field fence despite 25-30 mph winds coming in from right field to left field to wrap up the day for the Ichabods who trailed 3-1 entering the bottom of the sixth inning.
 
The Bearcats (15-30, 5-15 MIAA) scored in their first at bat taking a 1-0 lead, but Washburn came back with a run to tie the score on a single up the middle by Alyssa Carney sending Emilee Baker home in the bottom of the first.
 
The Bearcats scored two runs taking advantage of an Ichabod fielding error going up 3-1 and the Ichabods would not score until sending eight batters to the pate in the sixth inning. Savannah Moore walked to lead off the inning and Carney's single moved her to third after a wild pitch. A single by Kirk scored Moore and then Carney would come around to score on a fielder's choice by Salinas tying the score.
 
Lexi Crabtree came in a tossed the final 4 1/3 innings not allowing a Bearcat runner to reach base minus an error in the fourth as she retired the final 13 batters she faced for the win striking out four setting the table for Kirk's heroics to end the game.
 
Kirk finished the second game with two hits scoring once and driving in two.