BENTONVILLE, Ark. – The No. 22 Washburn Ichabod softball team opened the Alvy Early Memorial Classic with a 3-0 win over Illinois-Springfield on Friday afternoon. Washburn returns to action on Saturday facing Henderson State and Southern Nazarene.
 
Washburn scored in its first at bat of the game when Marrit Mead led off the game with a walk and then scored on an error by the Prairie Stars scoring Mead as the Ichabods took a 1-0 lead. Washburn added two more in the third inning after back to back singles by Mead and Paige Robbins. After Mead swiped third, Jaycee Ginter singled scoring Mead.
 
Jaden LaBarge singled scoring Robbins as the Ichabods went up 2-0.
 
Ginter (4-0) struck out eight scattering four hits to get the win while driving in one with two hits. Mead scored two times with a hit, walk and stolen base and Kimi Patterson had two hits.