LEADING OFF
» Washburn continues its road swing with a four-game series in the Sooner State, as it takes on Southeastern Oklahoma State at The Ballpark in Durant.
» The series opener is set for Friday at 2 pm, with the teams squaring off in the a doubleheader Saturday (12/2 pm), before wrapping up the series Sunday at 12 pm.
» The series with SOSU is part of a 10-game road swing to open the season for the Ichabods, plus a three-game neutral set, as they take part in the GLVC/MIAA Challenge slated for next weekend in Joplin, Mo.
PREVIEWING SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA
» The Storm struggled against the MIAA to start the year, going 1-3 during the opening week of action. Their lone win was a 3-2 result over Emporia State in 10th innings.
» Southeastern began the year tabbed to finished eighth in the GAC preseason poll after posting a 22-23 overall record and 17-15 mark in league play last season.
» SOSU returners its top hitter from 2018 in Austin Ferguson who tallied a .380 average with 30 RBI. Joseph Cerda and Easton Elliott also return. Cerda hit .309 last season with 40 RBI, while Elliott was .291 with a team-best nine home runs.
» Bryce Deathrage (6-3) and Cody Nitson (5-3) headline the pitching staff.
THEY GOT HISTORY
» Washburn met the Savage Storm for the first time ever last season as they faced off in the Air Hog Classic, winning 8-3.
» The team three more times over the course of 2018, all in Durant, with the going 2-1 in span, pushing the series led to 3-1.
» The Ichabods are 1-1 when facing SOSU in doubleheader action.
» The last the teams met, they combined for 29 runs as Washburn won the season series finale, 15-14.
LOOK WHO'S BACK, BACK AGAIN
» The Ichabods feature 22 returners headlined by 2018 All-MIAA picks Javis Larson and Josh Ramirez.
» Washburn will have 10 seniors, six juniors and five sophomores.
NEW FACES
» Washburn brings in 18 new faces for 2019 with 10 transfers and eight true freshman. Of the 11 transfers, there are nine juniors, one senior.
» The transfers include one catcher, three are infielders and three outfielders with pitching making up the balance.
» Juniors Braden Minor (RHP) and Wyatt Featherston (OF) as well senior infielder Lane Harvey each come to Topeka with Division I experience. Minor and Featherston spent their freshman season at Oklahoma and Western Kentucky while Harvey was at Morehead State last season.
RAM TOUGH
» Josh Ramirez headlines the 2019 rotation after earning an All-MIAA honorable mention nod in 2018.
» Ramirez is 1-0 on the year after notching the season opener with 5.2 inning and seven strikeouts last Friday.
» Ramirez began the year among the top 30 in program history in strikeouts (t-26th/108) and innings pitched (20th/146.1) and is in reach with lowest ERA (37th/5.29). Averaging 36 strikeouts and 48.2 innings in his first three season, Ramirez could potential finish the season among the Top 15 in each category.
WE HAVE LIFT OFF
» Washburn tallied four home runs during the opening weekend.
» Brady Hoover was 5-for-12 (.417) at the plate during the opening weekend, scoring three runs with four RBI and two home runs.
» Newcomers Lane Harvey and Wyatt Featherston also showed off their respective power with a lead-off home runs during the series.
SPEED DEMONS
» Washburn was fifth in the MIAA last season in steals (70) and attempted steals (94).
» Javis Larson was fourth in the MIAA with a team-best 18 steals.
» Jake Hahn is the second leading returner in steals with nine.
» Since 2015, WU has been among the MIAA top five in steals.
#PROBODS UPDATE
» Former Ichabod slugger Riley Krane (2014-17) is set for his second full season in the Frontier League in 2019 when he suits for the Joliet Slammers. Krane is hitting a .248 for his career with eight dingers, 52 RBI in 123 games played.
» Former Washburn hurler Brett Ash announced his retirement from professional baseball. Ash played four seasons as a member of the Seattle Mariners farm system. He was a career 30-27 in the minors with a 4.94 ERA. In 2016, he helped the Jackson Generals (AA) to a Southern League crown as he went 12-8 on the year.
