MANKATO, Minn. – The Washburn Ichabods opened the 2022 season drawing a split on the first day of action at the MSU Dome Classic topping Concordia-St. Paul 5-4 while falling in the second game 6-3 to Minnesota Duluth. The Ichabods will be back in action with only a single game on Saturday against No. 11-ranked Minnesota State at 3:30 p.m. The Ichabods' scheduled game with Maryville (Mo.) was canceled as the Saints were unable to make the trip north due to weather conditions.
Game 1 – Washburn 5, Concordia St. Paul 4
After the Bears scored in the top of the second taking a 1-0 lead, the Ichabods came back with three of their own in the bottom of the frame all coming with two outs.
Maddie Stipsits singled and the after
Skylar Darnell reached on an error and then moved to second on a wild pitch,
Marrit Mead walked and then
Hailey Neira drew a bases-loaded walk for the first Ichabod run of the game.
Hadley Kerschen singled to right scoring Mead and Darnell.
In the fourth, the Ichabods added two more runs again with two outs when Mead singled and then stole second. Neira singled sending Mead home and then Kerschen sent Neira home with a single of her own to center pushing the Washburn lead to 5-1.
Concordia added a solo run in the fifth cutting the margin to 5-2 and added another run in the sixth trimming the Ichabod lead to 5-3.
The Bears added a solo home run cutting the lead to one at 5-4.
Raegen Hamm picked up the win pitching six innings scattering eight hits striking out seven and
Ashlie Thissen pitched the final inning striking out one picking up the save.
Game 2 – Minnesota Duluth 6, Washburn 3
The Bulldogs struck first with a solo run and then increased their lead to 3-0 after sending two more across in the second inning.
After neither team scored in the third or the fourth, the Ichabods got on the board in the fifth with a single to left by Kerschen scoring Mead who reached on a fielder's choice trimming the Bulldog lead to 3-1.
Ashton Friend singled to center scoring Neira as Washburn pulled within one at 3-2.
In the sixth, Mead tied the score at 3-3 after driving in Stipsits who reached after being hit by a pitch. However, in the bottom of the inning, the Bulldogs came back with three of their own breaking out to a 6-3 lead on a 2-RBI double and an RBI single.
Washburn was able to get one on in the seventh, but could not add to its score in the 5-3 loss to the Bulldogs.
Jaden LaBarge took the loss in the circle striking out two in 3 2/3 innings pitched. Kerschen finished with three hits driving in one.
Kerschen was 6 for 7 on the first day of action driving in three runs and Neira collected three hits driving in two and Mead finished with two hits scoring three runs driving in one.
