Washburn baseball caps a four-game homestand on Tuesday when it hosts No. 12/16 Missouri Southern in a non-conference tilt at Falley Field with a 5 pm first pitch. The Ichabods have struggled against the Lions of late falling in each of the previous four meetings this season, but are looking to turnaround their fortunes as they try to build on their 2-1 series win over Southwest Baptist last weekend.

Live stats for each game will be available online at wusports.com/live or on the team's schedule page with additional links to radio and video made available on a game-by-game basis. 

LEADING OFF
» Per Washburn's archives, Tuesday marks the 95th all-time meeting and fifth of the season. 
» Tuesday is the first of two non-conference games between Washburn and Missouri Southern set to be held at Falley Field with other date scheduled for April 30. 
» The 2019 campaign marks the 30th season Washburn Baseball has called Falley Field home, since opening prior to the 1990 season.
» Washburn is led by Harley Douglas, who is in his fifth season with the program.

A LOOK AT MISSOURI SOUTHERN
The Lions visit Topeka at 24-10 overall and atop the MIAA standings at 15-6 and are 4-2 in their last six outings. The Missouri Southern offense leads the MIAA home runs (43) and is third in average (.292) and second in runs (263) and total hits (344). The Lions pitching meanwhile has a combined 4.40 ERA in 290.0 inning and leads the MIAA with 357 strikeouts. 

DOUBLE PLAY BALL
The Ichabod defense has turned 25 double plays on the year and began the week listed fifth in the conference and 51st on the NCAA Division II leaderboard. Washburn is averaging just under one (0.81) double play a game and has twice turned a season-high three double plays, first at Southeastern Oklahoma (2/9) then versus Rockhurst (2/13). Prior to the season, the Washburn defense has turned 164 double plays dating back to the 2015 season including a program-best 57 during the 2016 campaign. 

MILESTONE WATCH
» After pacing the team with 18 stolen bases in 2018, Larson's 31 career steals has him now two shy of tying Dane Simoneau for 25th on the all-time list.
» Washburn's .962 fielding percentage to begin the week is fifth-overall in the Washburn single-season record book.
» Ramirez's 203.2 career innings pitched is sixth-best all-time and is 1.1 innings shy of passing Brad Foster's 205 innings for fifth and trails Dustin Osterhaus by 4.2 innings for fourth on the all-time list.

YARD WORK
» The Ichabods began the season with a home run in four consecutive games en route to tallying 10 during their opening seven games of the season. 
» Seven of the 17 home runs Washburn has hit this season have come from the lead off spot. 
» In the last four seasons, Washburn has homered 193 times including 69 home run outburst in 2016 for second all-time. 
» Brady Hoover is third among league leaders with nine home runs.
» Chance Ragsdale raked his first career blast in the series finale against Southwest Baptist.

ICHABODS AT HOME
» Washburn are 3-1 at Falley Field this season. 
» The home opener against Baker on March 26 was the latest recorded home opener since 1991. 
» The Ichabods are 45-38 at Falley Field, dating back to 2015. 

UNDER DOUGLAS
Fifth-year head coach Harley Douglas is the fifth head coach in the program's 67 seasons. Douglas is 105-98 in his last four seasons which includes back-to-back seasons with over 30-plus wins. The first former player to take the helm, Douglas played four seasons (1997-2000) for predecessor Steve Anson before a stint with the New York Mets system and a three-year term as Anson's top assistant. 

#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. 

'BODS IN THE BIGS
Washburn baseball has been home to many talented alumni with some being able to take their talents to Major League Baseball. 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. Additionally, six Ichabods have been chosen in the MLB Amateur Draft with catcher David Gauntt being selected most recently by the Miami Marlins in 2016 (Round 18). 

UP NEXT
Washburn is scheduled to resume MIAA action this weekend as it travels to Fort Hays State for a three-game set, opening the series on Friday, April 12.