TAHLEQUAH, Okla. -- Washburn baseball came up short in a back-and-forth extra inning marathon that took nearly five hours and consisted of a combined 47 runs scored and 12 home runs hit. The Ichabods lost to the RiverHawks, 24-23, in 10 innings on Sunday afternoon. The series finale is schedule for Monday at noon.
 
In the game, senior Brett Ingram hit three home runs, including the game-tying two-run shot in the ninth. Ingram becomes the second Ichabod this season to hit a trio of home runs in a single game, joining Parker Dunn who accomplished the feat last weekend at Newman. Prior to this season, there had been only one other Washburn player since 1999 to hit three home runs in a game as Luke Manners recorded three on April 14, 2006 at Southwest Baptist.
 
The Ichabods (15-6, 6-2 MIAA) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Leadoff batter Tyler Clark-Chiapparelli was hit by the pitch to start the game and an error by the second baseman allowed Cal Watkins to reach base safely. With two outs and still two on, Ingram sent a 3-2 pitch over the wall in center field for his first home run of the day.
 
Northeastern State (15-6, 5-3 MIAA) responded with five runs on three hits and capitalized on a pair of errors to go in front in the bottom of the first.
 
The second frame saw more scoring pour in from both teams. With one out, Andrew Schmidtlein and Trevor McCollum hit back-to-back singles and then Clark-Chiapparelli drove in one run with a double to left field. For the second time in the game, Watkins reached on an error and two runs were able to score to put Washburn up 6-5. Dunn ripped a double to right field to send Watkins to third, who later scored on a sacrifice fly by Zion Bowlin to make it a 7-5 game.
 
After a pair of walks to start the bottom of the second, Northeastern State cleared the bases with a three-run homer to lead 8-7.
 
Neither team scored in the third frame, but Washburn got things going again in the fourth. Clark-Chiapparelli hit a leadoff infield single and on the first pitch of his at bat, Dunn gave the Ichabods the lead back with an opposite field two-run bomb.
 
Northeastern State used the long ball to retake the lead at 10-9 in the fifth with a two-run shot. The RiverHawks added some cushion with another two-run home run and then an RBI single to go up, 13-9.
 
Washburn came storming back in the seventh with six runs on four hits and an error. Ingram led off with a double and then traded places with Connor Scott after his double to left. Kros Bay emptied the bases with one swing with a two-run homer to get the Ichabdos within one. Three-consecutive walks loaded the bases with no outs and although a double play was turned, the tying run came across to score. Dunn stepped up to the plate and cranked out his second two-run home run of the afternoon to put the Ichabods back in front, 15-13.
 
NSU responded quickly in the home half of the inning, scoring five runs on five hits and taking advantage of three Washburn errors to grab an 18-15 advantage.
 
The Ichabods fought back again in the eighth as Ingram led off the inning with a home run to left center. Back-to-back errors put Ichabods on first and second and both scored on a double by McCollum to knot up the score at 18.
 
The RiverHawks answered with a leadoff homer of their own to reclaim the lead in the bottom of the eighth. An RBI single pushed the lead to 20-18.
 
Needing to produce at least two runs to stay in the game, Washburn was up to the task in the ninth. Zion Bowlin hit a one out single through the right side and up to the plate came Ingram, who recorded his third home run of the day to tie up the game again.
 
Northeastern State threatened in the bottom of the ninth and had the bases loaded with two outs when the ball was hit towards the right side of the infield and struck the baserunner, who was called out for interference to end the inning and sent the game to extras.
 
Cale Savage led off the 10th with a single up the middle and with two outs, NSU elected to intentionally walk Watkins in order to face Quinn Waterbury. The designated hitter quickly made them regret that decision as he sent the ball over the left field fence to put Washburn up 23-20.
 
The Washburn pitching staff struggled with control and walked the first three batters of the 10th. A hit by pitch scored one run and a walk brought in another. The Ichabods got back-to-back strikeouts, but the RiverHawks ended the game with a two-RBI single through the right side.
 
Ingram closed out his career day 5-7 at the plate with three home runs, a double, six RBI, and four runs scored. Dunn went 3-5 with a pair of two-run homers. Clark-Chiapparelli landed three hits, had a double, and scored three times. McCollum was 2-3 with a double, two runs scored, two RBI, and drew two walks.