TOPEKA, Kan. – The Ichabods posted two wins on Sunday afternoon against Concordia-St. Paul, first with a 7-3 victory and then a 5-4 walk-off win in the second game of the doubleheader. The series finale against Concordia-St. Paul will be Monday at noon at Falley Field.
GAME 1: Washburn 7, Concordia-St. Paul 3
Washburn starter
Rane Pfeifer pitched an efficient 1-2-3 first inning and the Ichabod offense erupted for four runs on four hits and an error in the bottom of the opening inning.
Cal Watkins got things started with a leadoff single and moved to third on a double by
Trey Adams.
Easton Bruce kept the line moving with a two-RBI single up the middle. With two outs,
Caden Bressler was hit by the first pitch of the at bat.
Connor Scott's single through the right side easily scored Bruce and an error committed by the right fielder on the play allowed Bressler to score and make it 4-0.
Pfeifer got out of a bases loaded jam without any damage in the second inning and closed the door with a strikeout.
In the bottom of the third,
Cale Savage reached base after getting hit by the pitch and then moved over to third after a pair of wild pitches.
Andrew Paulsey sent the ninth pitch of his at bat through the right side to drive in Savage and extend the Washburn lead.
The score stayed put at 5-0 until the Concordia-St. Paul got on the board with three runs on three hits and an error in the sixth.
The Ichabods created some breathing room in the bottom of the seventh as
Blake Scott led off the inning with a single to right center and moved up to second on an infield single by Watkins. Adams ripped a two-run double to push the Ichabods' lead to 7-3.
Griffin Huiatt returned to the mound in the ninth for his third inning of work and turned in a 1-2-3 inning to close out the victory.
The Ichabods landed eight hits compared to the Golden Bears' four. Watkins was 2-4 with a walk and two runs scored. Adams also had two hits and drove in two runs and scored once. Bruce collected two RBI and scored.
Pfeifer picked up the win after a five inning start and allowed two runs, two singles, and four walks with nine strikeouts. He retired the side in order in three of his five frames. Huiatt earned his first collegiate save tossing three scoreless innings and surrendering zero hits and three walks to go with a strikeout.
GAME 2 (seven innings): Washburn 5, Concordia-St. Paul 4
Game two of the doubleheader was a scheduled seven inning contest and the Golden Bears (0-3) got to an early 3-0 lead in the second frame after a two-run homer and an RBI single.
In the top of the fifth, the Golden Bears threatened to add to their lead with the bases juiced, but
Cole Warner ended their momentum and escaped the inning unscathed with a big strikeout to keep the score at 3-0.
Otto Jones started a two out rally in the bottom of the fifth with an infield single and Washburn (5-7) quickly benefited from his hustle as
Ike Book cranked out a two-run home run on the first pitch of the at bat to trim the CSP lead to 3-2.
Warner threw an efficient 10 pitch clean sixth inning to set things up for the Ichabod offense in the bottom of the inning. Bruce received a free base after getting hit and with two outs, Paulsey came through with the go-ahead two-run home run to right center.
The Golden Bears did not go quietly and led off the seventh with a double and eventually tied up the game with a sacrifice fly.
In the bottom of the seventh, a hit by pitch played a large role yet again in the game as Bressler was hit to lead off the inning. Jones laid down a sacrifice bunt and an infield single by Book put runners on the corners. Watkins was intentionally walked and on an 0-2 pitch, Adams hit the game-winning single into center field to give Washburn the 5-4 walk-off win.
Both teams landed eight hits on the afternoon. Book finished the game 2-3 with a two-run home run.
Otto Jones also had two hits and scored a run.
Warner earned his second win of the year, throwing 5 1/3 innings in relief and allowing just one run on three hits, one walk, and two strikeouts.
