LEADING OFF
• Washburn baseball will look the cap the 2018 season on a high-note as its set to face Lindenwood in a three-game series at Falley Field.
• The opener is scheduled for Friday at 6 pm, with game two following on Saturday at 3 pm. The Washburn season finale is slated for 1 pm Sunday.
• Prior to the Sunday's contest, the Ichabods will celebrate the careers seniors Darian Abram, Bowe Behymer, Jake Bublitz, Josh Crosby, Matthew Hicks, Braden Larkey and Zach Linquist.
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 have combined for 75 doubles, 38 home runs, 220 RBI and have 386 hits during 1473 at-bats.
• Since Apr. 11, Washburn's team batting average against MIAA opponents has risen 14 points from .248 to .262.
• The Ichabods began the week ranked 52nd in Div. II and fifth in the MIAA with 66 stolen bases.
• On the mound, the WU pitching staff has a collective 5.97 ERA with 292 strikeouts and is tied for first in the MIAA with three shutout victories.
• The Ichabod defense is second in the MIAA caught stolen bases (26), while ranking third in double plays turned (35) and assists (475) ... they're also listed 35th in Division II in double play.
• Josh Crosby is among the MIAA's top 10 offensive players this season in doubles (3rd, 18), home runs (t-3rd, 13), slugging (7th, .655) and RBI (t-7th, 42).
• Crosby's bat has been red hot as he's notched an extra base hit in seven of the last nine games including home runs in five of the last seven while watching raising his average (.302) by almost 50 points over the last month.
• With 18 stolen bases this season, Javis Larson is among the MIAA leaders as he tied for third.
• Since becoming an everyday starter behind the plate, catcher Steven Jacobson has seen his batting average climb from .259 to a team-best .319 over the span of 26 games.
• Josh Ramirez is among the top 10 arms in the MIAA in terms of ERA (9th/3.89) and innings pitched (9th/71.2), while his .263 opponent batting average is 16th-overall.
THE SKIPPER
• Harley Douglas is in his fourth season as the Ichabods' head coach.
• Douglas' career record to begin the year was 88-68.
• Douglas notched his 100th career victory on Apr. 15 with a 12-11 win over Nebraska-Kearney.
• 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 LINDENWOOD
• The Lions are still in the for a postseason tournament bid as they entered the series ninth in the MIAA standings at 14-16, while carrying a 23-20 record overall.
• Lindenwood is a five-game win streak which began with a 10-2 victory over first-place Central Missouri on April 17.
• The LWU offense is batting .285 on the year with a team slugging of .410, while notching 413 hits, 123 for extra bases.
• Drew Quinones paces the Lions in most major offensive categories including batting average (.364), slugging (.537), OBP (.472), runs (40), hits (59), doubles (17) and triples (4) while boasting a 40-game consecutive hit streak.
• The Lion pitching staff has a team ERA of 5.08 and .269 opponent batting average.
• Tyler Cassmeyer leads the pitching staff in ERA (2.74), wins (5), opposing batting average (.209) and innings pitched (72.0) while tallying two complete game performances and a shutout.
SERIES HISTORY
• Since 2013 Washburn and Lindenwood has faced 17 times.
• Washburn leads the all-time series 9-8.
• In Topeka, Washburn is 4-2 when facing Lindenwood and swept the last series at Falley Field in 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 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).
