WICHITA, Kan. – The Washburn Ichabod softball team ran its winning streak to 17 and opened MIAA play with a doubleheader sweep over Newman on Saturday afternoon improving to 19-6 on the season. The Ichabods (19-6, 2-0 MIAA) will continue MIAA play at No. 10 Central Oklahoma on Sunday in Edmond.
 
Game 1 – Washburn 10, Newman 2
The Ichabods fell behind 2-0 after the Jets' first at bat and trailed until the bats came alive in the fourth inning as the Ichabods scored five runs on five hits all coming with two outs. Kimi Patterson singled to center sending Jaycee Ginter who walked to second and after a single by Kaylee Wagner scored Ginter, Jaden LaBarge singled driving in Patterson. Paige Robbins came to bat and doubled driving in a run and then Marrit Mead tripled driving in two runs as Washburn went up 5-0.
 
Newman (5-9, 0-2 MIAA) got one run back in the fourth, but in the seventh, Washburn scored five more times as Mead led off the inning with home run and then Autymn Schreiner tripled and would score on a passed ball. Ashton Friend singled and then Ginter homered driving in two more runs. LaBarge would double scoring Maddie Stipsits as the Ichabods went up 10-2.
 
Ginter tossed six innings striking out eight to improve to 13-1 on the season. Mead finished with 3 RBI and LaBarge had two.
 
Game 2 – Washburn 11, Newman 4
The Ichabods jumped on the board in their first at bat scoring three unearned runs as Ginter and Patterson had one and two RBI respectively. The Jets scored one in the bottom of the first, but the Ichabods came back with two more in the second when Hadley Kerschen drove in two runs on a triple scoring Mead and Schreiner as Washburn went up 5-1.
 
The Ichabods scored two more runs in the fourth taking advantage of another Jet error going up 7-1. In the fifth, Mead hit her second home run of the day scoring Jenna Moore and Robbins as Washburn pushed its lead to 10-1.
 
The Jets scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth, but the Ichabods added a solo run in the sixth on an RBI single by LaBarge scoring Patterson who singled wrapping up the scoring and the 11-4 win.
 
Raegen Hamm pitched 4 2/3 inning for the win striking out three and Ginter pitched the final 2 1/3 inning. Mead, Kerschen and Patterson all drove in two runs each.