ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Washburn Ichabod softball team picked up a doubleheader split on Tuesday afternoon at Missouri Western falling in the opener 8-3 before holding the Griffons scoreless in the nightcap in a 3-0 win. Washburn (25-12, 11-9 MIAA) will return to action on Wednesday at Gahnstrom Field hosting Central Missouri starting at 3 p.m.
Game 1 – MWSU 8, WU 3
Neither team would score until the fourth inning when starting pitcher Sydney Radar connected on a 2-run homer breaking the scoreless tie putting the Griffons up 2-0 and eventually 3-0 as Missouri Western added another on an RBI single by Sierra Culver. The Griffons tacked on another run in the bottom of the fifth when Rader drove in her third run of the game as Missouri Western stretched the lead to 4-0.
Washburn broke through with a run in the sixth when the Ichabods cut the lead in half with a 1-out double by
Bri Francis scoring
Kimi Patterson who walked and
Ashton Friend who singled. After Francis advanced to third on a wild pitch,
Maddie Stipsits singled send Francis home cutting the lead to 4-3. With the bases loaded, the Ichabods it into a double play ending the inning.
The Griffons came back with four runs in the sixth taking an 8-3 lead as the Ichabods were held scoreless in the seventh.
Francis, Friend and Stipsits each had two hits and Francis drove in two in the game.
Game 2 – WU 3, MWSU 0
All three runs Washburn would need in gaining the split of the twin bill would come in its first at bat as
Hadley Kerschen drove in Mead who led off the game with walk on a double to center. Washburn's next batter, Friend homered to right field with her eighth home run of the season scoring Kerschen as the Ichabods went up 3-0.
Both the Ichabods and the Griffons were scoreless in the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth and seventh inning as all of the runs came in Washburn's first at bat.
Jaycee Ginter tossed her third complete game shutout and her ninth complete game overall needing 84 pitches scattering seven and striking out six in the win improving to 13-4 on the season.
Kerschen had two hits in the game and Friend drove in two in the second game. Mead walked twice.
