JOPLIN, Mo. --- A three-run eighth on the final day of the MIAA/GLVC Challenge allowed Washburn baseball to squeeze past Missouri-St. Louis, 7-6. As result, the Ichabods closed the crossover series 2-1 and head into conference play next weekend at 5-4 on the year. 

Trailing 6-4 after seven innings, Washburn began the eighth with back-to-back walks and a single by Lane Harvey to load the bases. Steven Jacobson then tallied his second RBI of the evening as on a five-pitch walk, pushing Rorey Combs across. With bases still loaded and two-outs, a lengthy at-bat for Peter Shearer yielded another base-on-ball RBI as Javis Larson scored, tying the game at six-all. Though facing a new arm for the Tritons, Chance Ragsdale produced a similar outcome as another five-pitch walk resulted in an RBI as Harvey crossing home for the go-ahead run.

In the bottom half of the eighth, Nick Sloan retired the first batter face. UMSL though threatened a error and single placed runners on the corners. Sloan and the Ichabods however escaped the inning unscathed as the next batter flied into a double play with Combs gunned down the third base runner at home.

The Ichabods opened the scoring in second with back-to-back runs from Wyatt Featherstone and Shearer. Xavier De Leon was credited with driving in Featherston on ground out, while Bailey Jenkins doubled to left center allowing Combs to score from second.

Missouri-St. Louis then scored twice in the third before pushing across three more in the home-half of the fourth to take a 5-2 lead. 

In the sixth, Washburn trimmed the margin 5-4 with runs by Harvey and Brady Hoover. Harvey scored from third on a passed ball, while Jacobson recorded an sac fly RBI to score Hoover. Both runs were unearned as Harvey reached base on a one-out. UMSL pulled back a run in the home half as it poked a single to left. 

Tossing three scoreless frames, Sloan (2-0) was credited with the win. The right-hander worked the final three innings allowing three hits and one, while striking out three. As a result, Washburn starter Josh Ramirez received a no decision. Ramirez was hitless in his three innings of work, though surrendered two runs and five walks. Nathan Lorenzen appeared in the relief working the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. 

The Ichabods return to the road next week when they face Lindenwood in a three-game set to open MIAA action. The series is set to begin on Friday with first pitch of the series opener slated for 6 pm.