EDMOND, Okla. – The Ichabods broke a tie ballgame with two runs in the top of the ninth and then retired Central Oklahoma in order on three strikeouts in the bottom of the frame to capture the 7-5 victory in the opening game of the MIAA Tournament quarterfinal series. Game two of the best-of-three series will take place Saturday at 3 p.m.
 
The Ichabod (30-18) offense attacked quickly to start the game as Brett Ingram hit a one out single down the right field line and then Quinn Waterbury gave Washburn an early 2-0 lead with one swing as he sent the ball over the fence in deep center field.
 
Washburn starter Casey Steward was able to get out of the first two innings without any damage. He recorded three strikeouts in the opening frame and left two Bronchos stranded on base and then a double play in the second ended the inning and one UCO baserunner was left behind.
 
Central Oklahoma (29-20) broke through in the third inning, however, to level the score after a solo home run and later an RBI single.
 
The Ichabods answered and got those two runs back the following inning. The first three batters of Parker Dunn, Tyler Clark-Chiapparelli, and Easton Bruce all got on base with a single. Kros Bay reached on a throwing error by the third baseman, which allowed Dunn to score and make it 3-2 in favor of Washburn. Cal Watkins collected an RBI on a fielder's choice to put the Ichabods in front, 4-2.
 
In the home half of the fourth, the Bronchos pulled within one when the leadoff man hit an inside the park home run after Washburn's center fielder crashed into the wall in an effort to catch the hard-hit ball.
 
With the score still holding at 4-3, the Ichabods added an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Watkins led off with an infield single and advanced into scoring position on a groundout. On a 3-2 pitch, Waterbury landed a single down the left field line to drive in Watkins and push Washburn's lead to 5-3.
 
UCO had runners on the corners with two outs in the seventh inning, but Dalton Huggins worked out of the jam and got the final out inning with a flyout.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, the Bronchos loaded up the bases with one out after a single, hit by pitch, and another single. A single up the middle plated two and knotted up the score again. John Cross ended the inning with a strikeout and a groundout.
 
Central Oklahoma's newly dubbed MIAA Pitcher of the Year, Kyler Patterson, returned to the mound in the top of the ninth for his third inning of work. For the second time in the game, Watkins got things going with a leadoff single. Up next was Ingram, who ripped a double to center field to drive in the go-ahead run. Waterbury laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Ingram up to third and in his first game back in the lineup since early last month, Zion Bowlin hit an RBI single up the middle to stretch Washburn's lead to 7-5.
 
Cross returned to the mound to close out the ninth and did so in dominant fashion as he struck out the side to seal Washburn's victory.
 
The Ichabods finished with a slight edge in hits, 13-12, as every player in the Washburn lineup recorded at least one hit. Waterbury was 2-4 with a home run and had three RBI and scored once. Watkins and Ingram both had two hits to go with two runs scored and an RBI. Bowlin went 2-3 with a walk and drove in a run.
 
Cross received the win and improved to 2-1 after he threw the final inning and 2/3 and had four strikeouts.