EDMOND, Okla. – There were a combined 10 home runs hit between both teams on Saturday as Washburn baseball split the doubleheader at Central Oklahoma, taking game one 6-4 before falling 12-3 in game two.
GAME ONE (Washburn 6, Central Oklahoma 4)
The Ichabods (8-15, 7-11 MIAA) grabbed an early 1-0 lead after a two-out solo home run by
Parker Dunn in the top of the first.
The Bronchos (12-9, 8-7 MIAA) responded with a home run of their own and took the lead in the home half of the frame as Kyle Crowl hit a two-run shot over to center field.
In the top of the third,
Xavier De Leon singled through the left side and then stole second to get in scoring position. Dunn tied up the game as he drove in De Leon with a double down the right field line.
The Ichabods went back in front the following inning on an RBI bunt single by
Cole Emerson that scored
Eric Hinostroza.
Washburn added one run in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings to increase its lead to 6-2.
After giving up the home run in the first,
Brock Gilliam settled in and held the Bronchos to just two singles over the next six innings.
Central Oklahoma capitalized on a couple of Washburn errors in the bottom of the seventh and scored an unearned run with an RBI single.
The Bronchos tacked on another unearned run in the bottom of the ninth, but a groundout to pitcher
Casey Steward ended the game with one runner left on base.
Dunn turned in an impressive game, going 3-4 at the plate with two solo home runs, a double and finished with three RBI.
Kros Bay hit the third Washburn home run of game one for his first long ball of the season. Featherston hit two ground-rule doubles and recorded an RBI.
Gilliam earned the win and improved to 4-2 on the season after allowing two runs and three hits scattered across seven innings while striking out 10. Steward captured his first career save after getting the final four outs with one unearned run, zero hits, one walk and one strikeout.
GAME TWO (Central Oklahoma 12, Washburn 3)
The Ichabods picked up where they left off in game one and carried that power into game two as
Brett Ingram hit a bomb over the left field fence to give Washburn a 1-0 lead in the second inning.
Central Oklahoma went in front in the third inning with one swing as Garrett Takamatsu connected for a two-out, three-run homer.
The Bronchos poured on six runs on six hits with two home runs the following frame to extend their lead to 9-1.
The Ichabod offense got back to work in the top of the fifth and put up two runs.
Peter Shearer hit a leadoff double and up next was
Zion Bowlin, who sent the ball over the wall in left field to make it a 9-3 game.
UCO plated three more runs in the eighth, starting with a solo home run.
Bowlin finished the game 2-3 and had two RBI from his home run in the fifth.
Tyler Clark-Chiapparelli doubled twice and Ingram's homer was his fifth of the season.
Sean McElwee was tabbed with the loss, surrendering seven runs in 3.1 innings with four strikeouts.
Joel Casillas came on in relief in the fifth inning and tossed two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and struck out five.
After back-to-back series on the road, the Ichabods return to Falley Field on Tuesday, April 6 for a non-conference game against Pittsburg State. First pitch against the Gorillas is set for 5 p.m.
