PITTSBURG, Kan. – The No. 5 seed Ichabods were unable to overcome an early deficit on Saturday afternoon as the No. 4 seed Pittsburg State won game two of the best-of-three MIAA quarterfinal series, 8-5, to force the deciding game on Sunday. With rain still in the forecast, first pitch on Sunday has been moved up to noon.
The Gorillas (27-14) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning, scoring three unearned runs after an error with two outs extended the inning.
Kros Bay got things rolling for Washburn (20-21) in the third frame with a leadoff single to center field. A fielding error by Pittsburg State's third baseman allowed
Cole Emerson to reach and moved Bay to second.
Wyatt Featherston reached on a fielder's choice and on that play, PSU committed another error, allowing everyone to stay safe and load the bases.
Eric Hinostroza brought in the first Washburn run on a sacrifice fly and both runners moved up into scoring position.
Zion Bowlin evened the score with a two-RBI single to right center.
Pittsburg State got those three runs back in the bottom of the third to retake the lead at 6-3.
In the top of the fourth, Washburn got a runner on base with one out after
Peter Shearer hit a single up the middle. With two outs and down in the count 0-2, Emerson battled back and worked it to a 3-2 count before sending the next pitch over the wall in left field to get the Ichabods within one.
Casey Steward took over on the mound in the bottom of the fourth and got the first two outs on fly outs, but ran into a little trouble allowing a single and issuing back-to-back walks. With the bases juiced, Steward ended the inning with a strikeout to keep the score at 6-5.
The Ichabods had runners in scoring position in the fifth and sixth innings, but were unable to bring in a run.
The Gorillas added some padding to their lead in the bottom of the sixth with a two-out, two-run home run to make it an 8-5 contest.
Washburn had a base runner in each of the final three innings, but Pittsburg State held on for the 8-5 victory to force a third game.
Sean McElwee was tabbed with the loss, going three innings and allowing six runs, three earned, on seven hits. Steward went two and two-thirds innings and gave up one run on two hits and struck out two.
Conner Bond tossed the last two scoreless innings, surrendering just two hits.
Bowlin recorded two hits and drove in two runs.
Xavier De Leon and Bay also had two hits on the day. Emerson launched a two-run bomb and scored twice.
