TOPEKA, Kan. – The Washburn baseball team handed the No. 5-ranked Missouri Southern Lions their first loss of the season and extra innings were required in game two as the Ichabods split the doubleheader at Falley Field on Saturday.
The Ichabods are now 3-7 (3-2 MIAA) this season while the Lions check in at 11-1 (5-1 MIAA).
Washburn will hit the road next week to take on Pittsburg State starting Friday, March 12 at 3 p.m.
GAME ONE (Washburn 5-Missouri Southern 3)
The Ichabods put up the first run of the game in the bottom of the second after
Zion Bowlin walked, stole second, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, and then scored on a passed ball.
Washburn went up 2-0 in the bottom of the third when
Eric Hinostroza made it home on
Brett Ingram's sacrifice fly.
Washburn starter
Brock Gilliam had three-straight 1-2-3 innings until the top of the fourth when the Lions scored one run on three hits. With runners on second and third and two out, Tommy Stevenson hit a single to left field to score one run, but a laser throw from
Peter Shearer in left field got Jordan Fitzpatrick out at the plate to end the inning.
Cole Emerson started the bottom of the fifth with a leadoff triple to right center and then scored on
Xavier De Leon's single to make it a 3-1 game.
The Lions tied up the game in the next half inning with two solo home runs.
The Ichabods got those two runs back in the bottom of the sixth to retake the lead, 5-3. Three-straight singles allowed Shearer to score and then De Leon drove in
Cole Emerson with a single to right center.
Gilliam finished what he started and closed out the ninth for the complete game victory. He allowed three earned runs on 10 hits but struck out a career-high 13 batters and improves his record to 2-1 on the season.
Zac Shoemaker was tabbed with his first loss this season and is 2-1.
De Leon went 2-4 and drove in two runs. Shearer and Emerson both went 2-3 at the plate and scored a combined three runs.
GAME TWO (Missouri Southern 4-Washburn 3, 11 innings)
Missouri Southern got on the board after leadoff double and a Washburn error allowed the runner to advance to third. He reached home on a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0 in favor of Missouri Southern in the third inning.
The Ichabods took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the third, scoring two runs on three hits.
Kros Bay started things off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from De Leon. Hinostroza ripped a double down the left field line to score Bay and then made it home on a
Brett Ingram double.
Yet another double put Washburn in scoring position in the seventh inning. Bay started off the frame with a double to left center and De Leon's second successful sacrifice bunt of the game pushed Bay to third. Hinostroza brought Bay home again with a single up the middle.
Missouri Southern cut the deficit to one run with a two out solo homer in the eighth.
With two out in the top of the ninth and runners on the corners, the Lions' Brad Willis doubled down the left field line to knock in the tying run. Running aggressively on the bases, Missouri Southern sent the runner home and Shearer's throw was in time to end the inning and keep it a 3-3 game.
The Ichabods had a chance in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded and two out, but could not bring the winning run home.
In the top of the 11th, MSSU hit a one out single and then juiced the bases with a walk and catcher's interference. A Washburn balk brought in the go-ahead run and that would be all Missouri Southern would need.
Ichabod starter
Sean McElwee received a no decision after tossing nine innings and allowing three runs, two earned, on eight hits and no walks. He also struck out five batters.
De Leon had another impressive game, going 3-4 with two important sacrifice bunts. Hinostroza went 2-5 and collected two RBI and scored once himself.
