WICHITA, Kan. – Washburn senior
Parker Dunn launched a trio of home runs to help the Ichabods to a 13-6 victory in the series opener at Newman Friday afternoon. The second game against the Jets is slated for 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Since 1999, there has been only one other Washburn player to hit three home runs in a game. Luke Manners recorded three homers on April 14, 2006 at Southwest Baptist.
The Ichabods (13-4, 4-0 MIAA) scored in eight of the nine innings and put up a run in the first inning for the fourth-straight game. Dunn recorded his first home run of the day on the first pitch of his at bat with two outs in the opening inning to give Washburn the early advantage.
Connor Scott led off the second frame with a single to left field and then stole second to get into scoring position. He tagged up on a fly out and then raced home on an errant throw trying to catch him at third base to put the Ichabds up, 2-0.
Dunn's second home run of the day was a two-run shot to center field in the third inning to make it a 4-0 game.
The windy day in Wichita also helped Newman (11-5, 2-2 MIAA) in the bottom of the third as the Jets cut Washburn's lead in half with a two-run home run of their own.
Washburn started the fourth with a single, walk, and single to load up the bases for
Teagan Tamiya, who walked to bring in a run.
Easton Bruce recorded a sacrifice fly to send in the Ichabods' sixth run of the game.
In the home half of the fourth, Newman got those runs back with another two-run homer to trim Washburn's lead to 6-4. The Jets threatened to add more with the bases loaded and one out, but the Ichabod defense got out of the inning with a double play.
The Jets plated a run in the fifth to get within 6-5, but it wouldn't stay that way long after Tamiya ripped an RBI single and
Quinn Waterbury scored on a wild pitch in the top of the sixth to stretch the Ichabod lead to 8-5.
Newman scored its final run of the contest on a sac fly in the bottom of the sixth.
The Ichabods led off back-to-back innings with a bang as Dunn knocked his third homer out in the seventh and Waterbury recorded his first home run as an Ichabod, sending the ball to right center to begin the eighth. Later in the same inning,
Cal Watkins' RBI single extended Washburn's lead to 11-6.
In the final inning, Scott worked his way around the bases to score after a double, stolen base, and wild pitch. With two outs, Bruce had a two-base hit to drive in
Kros Bay for the 13th and final run of the game.
Dunn wrapped up the afternoon 3-5 at the plate with all three of his hits ending up on the other side of the outfield fence and also collected four RBI. Bruce went 3-4 with a pair of doubles, two RBI, and two runs scored. Scott and Waterbury also recorded three hits and scored twice.
Dalton Huggins received the win and allowed one run on three hits and struck out three in three innings of work. Jake Schroder pitched a clean ninth inning with two strikeouts.
