CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Ichabods scored eight runs in the seventh inning and went on to post a 14-5 game two win on Friday afternoon to level the series at Rogers State. The series rubber match is set for Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
The Hillcats (22-22, 14-15 MIAA) wasted little time to get the action going as they loaded up the bases in the bottom of the first with a single and a pair of walks, but Washburn starter John Cross got out of the jam with back-to-back strikeouts.
 
Rogers State had a runner in scoring position in the second and fourth innings, but the Ichabods were able to leave them stranded and maintain the scoreless game.
 
On the second pitch of the fifth inning, Quinn Waterbury launched a home run over the fence in right field for the first run of the afternoon to give Washburn (28-15, 18-11 MIAA) the lead.
 
In the sixth, the Ichabods got a couple of infield singles from Brett Ingram and Otto Jones to put runners on for Waterbury, who came through again as he recorded a two out two-RBI double to left center that stretched WU's lead to 3-0.
 
The Hillcats made some noise of their own in the home half of the frame with three singles to fill up the bases, but Dalton Huggins was able to induce an inning-ending double play ball.
 
The Ichabod offense erupted in the seventh and scored eight runs on five hits with an error and five free passes. Leadoff man Tyler Clark-Chiapparelli was hit by a pitch to get things started and advanced into scoring position on Cal Watkins' bunt single. Everyone was called safe on Ingram's fielder's choice to set things up for Parker Dunn, who demolished the first pitch of his at bat for a grand slam. Otto Jones got after the first pitch and doubled down the left field line. Waterbury and Trevor McCollum were both plunked to juice the bases again. Cale Savage landed a two-RBI single and Clark-Chiapparelli drove in one with a double to push Washburn's lead to 10-0. Savage scored the eighth run of the frame on a throwing error by the catcher.
 
Rogers State spoiled the shutout with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the seventh and went on to score another run in the inning to trim the deficit to single-digits again.
 
Washburn went up by 10 again in the eighth inning after singles from Connor Scott and Waterbury put runners on the corners for McCollum, who collected an RBI on a fielder's choice.
 
Three-consecutive walks loaded the bases for the Hillcats in the bottom of the eighth and they plated a pair of runs, one of which was unearned, to make it a 12-4 game.
 
Watkins hit a leadoff single through the right side to get the ninth going and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Ingram traded places with him on double to left center and two wild pitches during the inning allowed Ingram to come around and score the Ichabods' last run of the game.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, Rogers State had runners on first and second with two out and scored one on a single, but the game ended on the same play as the batter got caught in a run down between first and second.
 
Washburn had its leadoff batter reach base in all nine innings and the Ichabods out hit the Hillcats, 14-10. The nearly four-hour long contest saw a combined 25 full count at bats between the two teams.
 
Making his seventh start of the season, Waterbury had an impressive day in his role as designated hitter and went 3-5 at the plate and was a triple away from the cycle. He also had three RBI and scored twice. Ingram was 3-6, scored three times, and drove in one. Watkins had a couple of hits, a walk, and scored twice. Dunn notched his 14th homer of the year and earned four RBI on that one swing. He was also walked three times.
 
Huggins improved his record to 4-0 after he got the final out of the fourth inning and threw 2.1 scoreless innings in relief. He surrendered only three hits and two walks while striking out two. Cross received a no-decision in his second start after 3.2 scoreless innings on the mound where he allowed just three hits, three walks, and three strikeouts.