TOPEKA, Kan. -- No. 20 Washburn extended its winning streak to seven games with two wins on the final day of the Washburn Invite, defeating Southwest Minnesota State 6-2 and Wayne State 3-0 in a shortened game due to rain. The Ichabods head to warmer weather in Clermont, Fla., where they will play six games in three days beginning Thursday, March 2.
Game 1: Washburn 6, Southwest Minnesota State 2
Jaycee Ginter got the opening game start in the circle for Washburn (15-3) and went five innings, giving up only one run on one hit and striking out five. It took until the fourth inning for either team to score and it was the Mustangs that got on the board first. Southwest Minnesota State (0-5) scored one run on one hit and one error in the top of the fourth to break the tie.
The Ichabods came right back in the bottom of the inning beginning with a walk by Erin Boles. Autymn Schreiner reached on an error and in the ensuing action Boles was able to reach home and score on a second separate error on the play. Schreiner advanced to third on the play and scored during the next at bat on a wild pitch to put Washburn in front 2-0.
Allison Hemsath entered the game as a pinch runner at first base after Kaylee Wagner walked and promptly stole second base. Hadley Kerschen did the rest, driving her home on a single into center field. Kerschen was moved over to third base and scored on a single into left field by Jaden LaBarge to make it 4-1.
The Ichabods added two more in the sixth inning, beginning with a one-out single by Kerschen. She was moved to second on a groundout then Marrit Mead traded places with Kerschen, roping a double down the left field line. LaBarge followed with her second hit into left field of the day and her second RBI, driving in Mead to make it 6-2.
Sheyenne Cheek took over pitching duties in the sixth inning and tossed the remainder of the game. She allowed one run, coming in the bottom of the seventh but sat down six of eight batters faced to finish out the game.
Jaycee Ginter moved to 12-1 in the circle on the year and Hadley Kerschen collected three hits in the game.
Game two (5 innings): Washburn 3, Wayne State 0
Sadie Walker got the start for the Ichabods in the second leg of the doubleheader. She threw three full innings and began the fourth, striking out six and giving up no runs on three hits.
Washburn used a two-out rally in the bottom of the first inning to strike on the scoreboard first. Jaycee Ginter started with a single straight up the middle and scored on a double by Marrit Mead that rolled to the wall in the left field corner.
Autymn Schreiner led off the second inning and was quickly at second base after getting hit by a pitch and then stealing second. She was moved to third by Paige Robbins and then scored on a balk by the Wildcats (1-8).
Sadie Walker began the fourth inning, but Sheyenne Cheek came in after two hitters came to the plate. Cheek worked around the baserunners, striking out two and keeping Wayne State scoreless.
Jaycee Ginter pitched the top of the fifth inning and gave up one hit with no runs while striking out the side.
In the bottom of the fifth the Ichabods added another run on a single through the left side, scoring Allison Hemsath who entered as a pinch runner. It was the last play of the day before the game was called due to weather conditions with Washburn winning 3-0.
Sadie Walker picked up the win in the decision and is now 2-2 on the year. Mead and LaBarge each had multi-hit games, combining for four of the Ichabods seven hits in the evening.
