TOPEKA, Kan. --- The offense heated up quickly on Saturday for the Washburn baseball team (20-19, 12-15 MIAA) as it cruised to a 7-3 victory over Emporia State (24-16, 17-10 MIAA) in the series finale, as the Ichabods pushed six different runners across in the effort on nine hits.
 
Brady Hoover led the charge with a three-hit day, while Rorey Combs, Javis Larson and Lane Harvey each finished with two hits apiece.
 
Washburn opened the scoring in the first with runs by Combs and Hoover, thanks to Hoover's team-best 11^th home run of the year. Michael Oyervides then drew a two-out walk before hustling around for the score on a RBI double from Steven Jacobson, giving the Ichabods a 3-0 advantage.
 
After surrendering a run in the top half of the second, Washburn hitters continued to produce as they loaded the bases with one out. Hoover then notched his third RBI of the day with a single to shallow center, allowing Harvey to cross home after reaching on a single.
 
Peter Shearer then stretched the Ichabod lead to 5-1, with a sacrifice fly pushing Xavier De Leon in for the score. Combs then increased the Washburn lead as he tallied his second run of the afternoon on a successful double steal with Hoover.
 
Jacobson then nudged the Ichabod cushion to 7-1 in the third after drawing a walk before rattling around from first on a double by Harvey.
 
For Washburn starter Brock Gilliam (4-5), that was more than enough run support as the junior was credited with the win. Gilliam was in control early in the outing allowing one run on three hits before retiring the Hornet side in order during the fourth.
 
In the fifth and sixth innings, Gilliam then saw six Hornet batters reach base but did well to suppress the damage allowing just one run in the sixth, before regaining his dominate form with a 1-2-3 seventh. The right-hander's day eventually came to end following a run on three hits in the eighth, however by then Gilliam had already registered five strikeouts.
 
Reliever Bailey Jenkins then closed the door on the Hornets' bid for a ninth-inning rally with a three-up, three-down effort.
 
The Ichabods are scheduled to resume action on Tuesday as they begin a four-game road swing with a non-conference tilt against Oklahoma Christian before returning to the Sooner State for a three-game weekend series with Central Oklahoma.