TOPEKA, Kan. – The Washburn softball team extended its winning streak to 15 after defeating Truman State by the score of 16-2 in five innings on Sunday afternoon. The Ichabods held an 8-0 lead after the third inning in game two of the doubleheader, but lightning and inclement weather rolled in which resulted in the game being canceled at the top of the fourth.
Washburn (17-6) wasted little time getting on the board as the Ichabods made 11 trips to the dish in the first inning and jumped out to a 6-0 lead. With runners on second and third,
Ashton Friend crushed a three-run bomb over the fence in left field to score the first runs of the contest. With two outs,
Kimi Patterson hit a solo shot to deep center field to make it 4-0 in favor of Washburn. A single, hit by pitch, and walk loaded the bases up for
Marrit Mead, who drove in a run after she legged out an infield single. With the bases still juiced,
Autymn Schreiner was hit for the second time in the frame which brought in the sixth run of the inning.
After
Jaycee Ginter struck out the side in the top of the second, the Ichabod offense started rolling again as they scored five runs on six hits. Friend and Ginter hit back-to-back doubles to begin the inning and Patterson brought them both in with a single up the middle. Mead came through again with two outs as she singled through the left side to bring in a run.
Hadley Kerschen collected two RBI with a single to stretch Washburn's lead to 11-0.
In the home half of the third, Moore landed a single and
Maddie Stipsits followed that with a double down the left field line. On the first pitch, pinch hitter
Kaylee Wagner doubled to right center to bring in two runs.
The Bulldogs (5-10) put up their first run of the game in the top of the fourth with a solo home run.
Truman State's pitchers struggled with command in the bottom of the fourth as Washburn scored three runs on one hit. After Schriener roped a leadoff double, Kerschen walked and then back-to-back wild pitches scored a run. Three-consecutive walks were issued and a wild pitch after the second walk scored the Ichabods' 15th run. A bases loaded walk was drawn by
Kayla Locke to push the lead to 16-1.
Truman State added one final run in the top of the fifth after three hits in a row before ending the game on a groundout.
The Ichabods finished the game with 14 hits, including five doubles all from different players. Moore went 3-4 at the plate and scored twice. Patterson was 2-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Mead and Friend both landed two hits and drove in a combined five runs.
Ginter (12-1) received the win after tossing four innings and allowing one run on two hits and three walks while striking out six.
The Ichabods start a 12 game road swing and begin MIAA play Friday, March 11 at Newman.
