TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn baseball will play its final non-conference tournament of the season with four games against three teams at the Northwestern Oklahoma State Ranger Festival in Alva, Okla. this weekend.
LEADING OFF
>> The Ichabods will begin the tournament on Friday at 3:30 p.m. against Oklahoma Baptist (2-1).
>> Saturday will be a doubleheader starting against tournament-host Northwestern Oklahoma (1-3) at 2:30 p.m. before closing out the day at 6 p.m. with New Mexico Highlands (0-2).
>> The finale will be another matchup against Oklahoma Baptist on Sunday at noon.
>> The Ichabods are coming off a 1-3 season opening trip in Florida.
>> WU competed at the NWOSU Festival in 2020 and went 3-1 in Alva.
>> Washburn was 20-22 (18-15 MIAA) overall last season and finished fifth in the conference standings and advanced to the MIAA Tournament for the first time since 2016.
>> The Ichabods went 11-14 in road games last year.
>> This is the 70th season in Washburn baseball history.
WASHBURN'S LAST TIME OUT
>> The Ichabods started the season 1-3 in the Sunshine State.
>> Washburn put up four runs in the eighth to pull within one against Nova Southeastern in the season opener, but ultimately fell 8-5.
>> The following day against Barry, Washburn tied up the game at 2 and then 3 before falling 6-4.
>> After trailing 3-0 in six innings at Palm Beach Atlantic, the Ichabods came back to win 5-3 in the 10th frame.
>> WU took its first lead of the season with one run in the top of the first at Lynn and then went up 2-1 in the fourth. The Fighting Knights scored five unanswered runs across the next three innings and won the contest 6-3.
QUICK HITS
>> In their first series playing for Washburn, Connor Scott and Cal Watkins made an instant impact at the top of the lineup.
>> As the leadoff man, Watkins reached base in all four games and has recorded five hits, two walks, and has been hit by a pitch.
>> Scott has done a little of everything and leads the team in hits (seven), doubles (three), triples (one), and is tied for the lead with runs scored (three).
>> In his first game back after suffering an injury in 2021, Trevor McCollum went 3-3 with two RBI and a run scored in the season opener at Nova Southeastern.
>> Freshman Easton Bruce made contact with the first pitch he saw and singled in his first collegiate at bat at Barry.
>> On the season, Bruce is 3-8 with two RBI and a run scored.
>> Zion Bowlin and Tyler Clark-Chiapparelli both have landed four hits and driven in two runs apiece.
FIRSTS OF 2022
>> Five hitters and eight pitchers made their Washburn debut this past weekend in Florida.
>> After making 10 appearances out of the bullpen last season, Casey Steward made his first start on the mound and received a no-decision going 5.0 innings and allowing three runs on six hits while striking out four.
>> Bowlin hit the first Ichabod home run of the season to lead off the fourth inning at Lynn.
WHAT A RELIEF
>> In the 10 inning victory against Palm Beach Atlantic, Washburn's bullpen helped keep the game within reach as the Ichabod offense came back from a 3-0 deficit.
>> With runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the fourth, Austin Gerety came on and got out of the inning with a pair of strikeouts.
>> Wyatt Hardy made his Washburn debut and retired the side in order in the fifth.
>> In the seventh, Joel Casillas got the Ichabods out of another jam as the Sailfish had two on with no out. He ended the inning with a fielder's choice, groundout, and a strikeout.
>> Dalton Huggins came on in the eighth inning with two runners on and two out in a tie ballgame and ended the inning with a strikeout.
>> He returned to the bump in the ninth and struck out the side to send the game to extras and was tabbed with the victory as the Ichabods went on to win.
>> Huggins made two relief appearances this past weekend and allowed just one hit in 4.1 innings pitched while striking out eight.
KILLER B'S
>> In Monday's game against Lynn, Washburn brought in five pitchers who all have a last name that begins with the letter B.
>> Jack Brimacombe, Braden Burcham, Brant Bennett, Braden Babcock, and Britt Brown all made an appearance against the Fighting Knights.
MIAA PRESEASON POLL
>> For the second-consecutive season, the Ichabods were picked sixth in the MIAA Baseball Coaches Preseason Poll.
>> Central Missouri was voted the favorite earning 10 first-place votes and totalling 120 points.
>> Pittsburg State racked up 103 points and one first-place votes and Northeastern State received the final first-place vote and was tabbed third with 94 points.
>> Central Oklahoma (92 points) and Missouri Southern (86 points) rounded out the top-five.
ALL-MIAA RETURNERS
>> Nine Ichabods earned All-MIAA honors in 2021, the most selections for Washburn since nine were chosen in 2014. Six of those players return for the 2022 season.
>> Brett Ingram played all 42 games and made 41 starts to earn a place on the second team as a designated hitter. He hit .313 and was second on the team with 51 hits.
>> Parker Dunn (outfield) and Tyler Clark-Chiapparelli (infield) were named to the all-MIAA third team.
>> Dunn started all 35 games he played and led the Ichabods with nine home runs and a 613 slugging percentage. He was also second with 12 doubles and 35 RBI.
> Despite missing the last 12 games of the season due to injury, Clark-Chiapparelli turned in a solid year. He recorded 11 extra base hits, including seven doubles and three homers, while batting .294. He also scored 19 runs and drove in 16 and was successful in seven of eight stolen base attempts.
>> Honorable Mention pick Kros Bay returns after leading the team with a .355 batting average and 15 doubles. The catcher also legged out two triples and hit three homers to finish with 24 RBI.
>> Bowlin was also an honorable mention after he lead WU with 36 RBI and three triples. He was also second on the squad with eight homers.
>> Relief pitcher Zach Philbin received honorable mention status in his first season with the Ichabods. He made 17 appearances out of the bullpen and finished with a 3-0 record and 0.95 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 19 innings pitched. He did not allow an earned run until his ninth appearance after 10.1 innings pitched.
HEAD COACH HARLEY DOUGLAS
>> Former Washburn All-MIAA outfielder Harley Douglas enters his eighth season at the helm of the Washburn baseball program in 2022.
>> In seven seasons, Douglas carries an all-time record of 161-152 with three appearances in the MIAA Tournament.
>> He has also coached a total of 39 all-MIAA selections, including one MIAA Player and Pitcher of the Year.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
OKLAHOMA BAPTIST BISON
>> The Bison finished 2021 with a record of 26-15 while going 22-11 in the GAC.
>> Through three games, OBU has a .278 batting average and has cranked out eight home runs.
>> Ramon Gomez leads the team with seven hits and has two homers and a double to go with five RBI and three runs scored.
>> Dan Pruitt also has two home runs, five RBI, three runs scored after landing five hits.
>> The Bison pitching staff hold a 1.25 ERA with 40 strikeouts and 12 runs allowed.
>> Brek Galbreath picked up the win against Emporia after tossing six scoreless innings with four hits, two walks, and six strikeouts.
>> Tyler Frank also earned a win with a seven inning outing against Pittsburg State. He allowed three runs on six hits, two walks, while recording nine strikeouts.
>> Chris Cox is in his second season as the head coach for Oklahoma Baptist and compiled a record of 42-21 heading into this year.
>> Washburn is 0-2 all-time against Oklahoma Baptist after dropping two games in 1989.
NORTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE RANGERS
>> The Rangers went 26-15 (21-12 GAC) in 2021 and had a record of 16-12 on their home field in 2021.
>> NWOSU has already played all four games of its season at home and have gone 1-3.
>> The Rangers are coming off a 17-5 loss against Newman on Wednesday.
>> The offense is hitting .288 with seven home runs and 10 doubles.
>> Shaughn Kelly has started all four games and has a .421 batting average and leads the team with eight hits and four runs.
>> The pitching staff holds an 8.00 ERA with 37 strikeouts.
>> Emilio Lovato received the win against Minnesota Crookston after going seven innings and allowing two earned runs on five hits with seven strikeouts.
>> Ryan Bowen is beginning his fifth year at the helm of NWOSU's baseball program and has a career record of 84-79.
>> These teams have only faced each other twice and won one game apiece in 2020 in Alva.
NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS COWBOYS
>> At the conclusion of 2021, the Cowboys went 13-25 (11-23 RMAC) and have started the new season 0-2.
>> In two games, NMHU has been outscored 35-11.
>> The team is hitting .253 and has recorded eight doubles and two triples.
>> Three players lead the team with three hits including Joe Kuhn and Brandon Baler who are hitting .500 on the young season and each have a pair of doubles and run scored.
>> On the mound, the Cowboys hold a 13.00 ERA with 16 strikeouts.
>> Hunter Waugh went three innings in his start and allowed five runs on six hits and struck out four.
>> Shannon Hunt is at the start of his eighth season with New Mexico Highlands.
>> This will be the first meeting between these programs.
HISTORY MADE
>> In his final season, senior Brock Gilliam made Washburn history twice in one night in the MIAA Tournament opening game at Pittsburg State on May 14, 2021, as he broke a 30 year old program record for the most strikeouts in a single season and became Washburn's all-time strikeout leader.
>> Gilliam finished the year 7-2 with a 3.89 ERA and tossed his third complete game of the season on the historic night.
>> He closed out his career with 221 total strikeouts and had 110 in the 2021 season.
PRO BODS
>> There have been five Washburn players since 1965 that played for a Major League Baseball team and eight total players have signed a professional contract.
>> Gilliam is the most recent and was signed by the Kansas City Monarchs on July 23, 2021.
>> He appeared in 13 games making one start and finished with a 3-1 record in 22.2 innings pitched with 21 strikeouts.
>> He helped the Monarchs to the American Association championship title.
TAKE A LOOK AHEAD
>> The Ichabods are slated to play their first home games of the 2022 campaign Feb. 18-21 against Northern State.
