LEADING OFF
Washburn continues its road swing with a midweek set in Joplin as it participates in the MIAA/GLVC Challenge hosted by Missouri Southern. Originally slated for the weekend, games were pushed to Wednesday and Thursday due to inclement weather in the forecast. The three-game set is book ended with GLVC opponents as the Ichabods are set to face Rockhurst (Wednesday, 10 am) and Missouri-St. Louis (Thursday, 7 pm) while facing MSSU in non-MIAA action 4 pm on Wednesday. 

PREVIEWING THE COMPETITION
» Rockhurst open its 2019 season predicted to finish 12th in the GLVC  preseason rankings. The Hawks were 20-29 overall last season with a 10-18 mark in league play. Rockhurst has yet to play this season.
» Finishing one-spot better than Rockhurst in the GLVC preseason rankings was UMSL, which posted a 21-29 record and 12-16 league mark a season ago. The Tritons have yet to play this season.
» Host Missouri Southern began the year tabbed 6th in the MIAA preseason poll. last season, the Lions were 27-23 with 15-21 record in the MIAA. MSSU is 3-3 this season.

THEY GOT HISTORY
» Wednesday will mark the 70th meeting between Washburn and Rockhurst. The Ichabods trail the series, 35-34. The last time the teams met was in Topeka on Feb. 25, 2015; Washburn won, 9-7.
» Thursday will be the eighth meeting with Missouri-St. Louis. Washburn trails the series, 6-1. This is also the first meeting since the 1996 MIAA Tournament.
» Wednesday's matchup with MSSU will be the 91st meeting in series history and first of six on the season. The Ichabods trail the series, 54-34. 

KA-POW!
» Through its first six games, Washburn has homered seven times and is second in the MIAA. 
» Four of the Ichabods seven home runs thus far have come from the lead-off spot.  
» Washburn started the year with a home run in four consecutive games to open the year. The Ichabods have homered in 5 of 6 games. 
» Brady Hoover leads the team and tied atop the MIAA standing with three home runs. 
» Mark Wanner introduced him in style, notching a pinch-hit two-run home run in his first at-bat during the series opener at Southeastern Oklahoma (2/8).

TURNING TWO
» Washburn's six double plays is tied for first in the MIAA.
» On Feb. 9, the Ichabods turned a season-high three double plays in game two against Southeastern Oklahoma (2/9). 
» Brady Hoover has taken part in every double play to-date.

THIEVES!
» Washburn is second among the MIAA in stolen bases (13) and steal attempts (18). Last season the Ichabods were fifth in both categories, posting 70 steals and 94 attempts.
» Xavier De Leon, Wyatt Featherston and Steven Jacobson currently share the team lead with three steals apiece. De Leon is 3-for-3, while Featherston and Jacobson are 3-for-4.
» Since 2015, Washburn has been among the MIAA top five in steals.

CATCH ALL
» Pitcher Josh Ramirez is 2-0 in two starts this season.
» Ramirez and Nick Sloan are among the MIAA Top 10 in innings pitched at 10.2 (6th) and 10.0 (9th), respectively.
» Jacobson has a team-best two multi-hit games.
» Braden Minor and Nathan Lorenzen each have a save this season.
» The Ichabods are 2-0 when outhitting opponents this season.
» Hoover and Larson have each reached base in six- straight games.
» Hoover ended a season-high five-game hit streak on Feb. 9.
» Jacobson has a team-best two multi-hit games.