JOPLIN, Mo. – The Washburn baseball team outscored Missouri Southern 7-1 after the fourth inning and won the series with an 8-4 game three victory on Monday afternoon. The Ichabods return home for three games against Missouri Western this weekend, March 25-27.
After the Lions (16-11, 7-6 MIAA) put up a run in the bottom of the second, the Ichabods answered with one run of their own in the top of the third.
Trevor McCollum drew a one out walk and advanced to second on a ground out.
Tyler Clark-Chiapparelli brought the run in with a single to right field.
Missouri Southern took a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning after a walk and hit batter came around to score on a two out single to right.
The Ichabods (19-7, 10-3 MIAA) recorded three doubles with two outs to tie up the game in the fifth. Clark-Chiapparelli got things started with a two-base hit down the left field line and then traded places with
Cal Watkins on his double to right center to make it a one run game.
Parker Dunn drove in the game-tying run with his double to left center.
Washburn starter
Jack Brimacombe retired the side in order in the bottom of the fifth and the Ichabod offense got back to work in the sixth.
Connor Scott singled to center and advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Kros Bay reached safely on a throwing error by the short stop and McCollum kept the line moving with a ground-rule double that plated the go-ahead run.
Cale Savage recorded an RBI groundout that allowed Bay to score and push Washburn's lead to 5-3.
The Lions threatened in the bottom of the seventh after a single and back-to-back walks loaded the bases, but
John Cross took over on the mound and got a pair of strikeouts and a fly out to end the frame unscathed.
Another two out double resulted in a run for the Ichabods in the eighth inning. Bay doubled to left center and advanced to third after a fielding error by the center fielder before scoring on a wild pitch.
Washburn added two more runs in the top of the ninth. Watkins and Dunn hit singles to get the inning started and a wild pitch moved both runners up into scoring position. Another wild pitch allowed Watkins to score and a sacrifice fly by
Zion Bowlin built Washburn's lead to 8-3.
Missouri Southern made a little noise in the bottom of the ninth and juiced the bases after a hit by pitch and two walks with one out. A passed ball pushed the Lions' first run across since the fourth inning, but Cross locked in and got the final two outs with a fly out and ground out to end the game.
The Ichabods out hit the Lions, 13-6, and landed five doubles all from different players. Watkins went 4-5 at the dish with an RBI and two runs scored. Clark-Chiapparelli, McCollum, and Scott all recorded two hits and scored once.
Brimacombe (2-1) received the win after throwing 5.2 innings and allowing three runs, two of which were earned, on four hits and a walk while striking out three. Cross worked a season-high three innings in relief and got the save after surrendering one unearned run on one hit with two walks to go with five strikeouts.
