TOPEKA, Kan. – No. 18-ranked Washburn softball is set to play its final non-conference tournament with six games in the Sunshine State this week starting with two on Thursday. The Ichabods have won seven in a row and hold an overall record of 15-3.
 
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION

• Washburn will open its time in Clermont, Fla. on Thursday against Dominican University at 8 a.m. CT and then face the University of Bridge port at 10:30 a.m. CT.
• On Friday, Washburn will play in the same time slots and take on Tiffin and Saint Anselm.
• The final two games in Florida on Saturday will be against Notre Dame College (Ohio) at 1 p.m. CT and California University of Pennsylvania at 3:30 p.m. CT.
• Washburn has never played any of the six opponents on its schedule this week.
• There will not be live stats available for any of the games in Florida.
• A subscription can be purchased to watch the live stream of the games here.

 
GINTER NAMED MIAA PITCHER OF THE WEEK

• For the sixth time in her Ichabod career and second time this season, Jaycee Ginter earned MIAA Pitcher of the Week accolades.
• Last week, she went 3-0 in four appearances and two starts in the circle last weekend and finished with a minuscule 0.46 ERA and a total of 24 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings pitched. She allowed a total of just one run, three hits (all singles), and two walks in her time in the circle to hold opponents to a .063 batting average. She threw 13-consecutive innings across three games without allowing a hit.
• In the 7-0 win over the University of Mary, Ginter threw the first four innings of a combined no hitter and surrendered just two walks while striking out five in the win. She carried that momentum into the next game against Minnesota Crookston and tossed a perfect 5 1/3 frames in relief and did not allow a run, hit, walk, or hit batter while striking out 11 of the 16 batters she faced. In that game, she struck out six batters in a row - all looking.

 
THE WEEK THAT WAS

• The Ichabods won all four complete games at the Washburn Invitational last week.
• On Saturday, Washburn tossed a combined no-hitter against the University of Mary en route to a 7-0 victory and then won the night cap game 4-2 with a walk-off home run by Jaden LaBarge in the eighth inning.
• On Sunday, Washburn defeated Southwest Minnesota, 6-2, and then won 3-0 in five innings against Wayne State.
• In the contest against the Wildcats, the game was called with one out in the bottom of the fifth due to wet field conditions.
• In the four games, the Ichabod hitters only struck out a combined six times while the Washburn pitchers recorded 42 strikeouts.
• Marrit Mead led the Ichabod offense batting .538 )7-13) and had three doubles, four runs, and five RBI and did not strike out once.
• In addition to Ginter's performance in the circle, Sadie Walker was 1-0 in two appearances and struck out 10 in 5 2/3 innings.
• Sheyenne Cheek did not receive a decision in three appearances, but only allowed one run, one hit, and two walks to go with eight strikeouts in six innings of work.

 
IN THE RANKINGS

• The Ichabods moved up two places in the latest NFCA Top-25 Poll to No. 18 overall.
• As a team, the Ichabods are ranked 14th in all of Division II in ERA with a 1.30.
• Individually, Ginter leads the nation in wins as she is 12-1.
• Ginter is also ranked second in DII in strikeouts with 116 so far.
• Also ranked in the top-five in the nation is Mead for total hits. She is third overall with 30 hits, just two behind the national-leader.

 
QUICK HITS

• Through 18 games, Washburn is batting .269.
• Mead leads the way with a .476 batting average and has seven doubles and a home run mixed in her 30 hits. She also leads the team with 18 runs scored and is a perfect 9-for-9 in stealing bases.
• Hadley Kerschen has started all 18 games and is hitting .300. She is second on the team in hits with 15.
• Ginter has helped her own cause in many games so far as she leads the squad with 14 RBI. She has a .286 batting average and 14 hits on the season.
• LaBarge has knocked out a team-best three homers and has collected 12 RBI. She is batting .275 with 14 hits.
• Paige Robbins has also landed double-figure hits so far with 13 and has scored 10 times and driven in six runs.

 
IN THE CIRCLE

• As mentioned earlier, Ginter is 12-1 with a save and has a low 0.67 ERA in 84.0 innings of work. She has thrown seven complete games and struck out 116 batters.
• Cheek is 1-0 with a save in eight appearances and has a 1.24 ERA in 22 2/3 innings. She has struck out 19 and held opponents to a .147 batting average.
• Walker is 2-2 in six starts and has a 4.53 ERA. She also has 17 strikeouts in 17.0 innings pitched.

 
BODS AND ENDS

• The Ichabods have jumped out to quick starts in all of their games so far and have outscored opponents 32-4 in the first two innings, including 17-0 in the second.
• WU is 8-1 when scoring in the first frame.
• Mead is on an 11-game hitting streak.
• Head Coach Brenda Holaday is seven wins away from eclipsing 200 in her time at Washburn.
• Washburn is 7-0 when LaBarge hits in the fifth spot in the lineup.

OPPONENT QUICK SCOUT
Dominican University of New York

• Dominican finished 2022 with an overall record of 20-24 (12-12 CACC) and were picked ninth in this year's conference preseason poll.
• The Chargers have already played six games in Florida and are 1-6.
• The team's offense is batting .250 with seven doubles and a home run while in the circle, the Chargers hold a 6.87 ERA and 15 strikeouts.

 
Univ. of Bridgeport

• The University of Bridgeport is in its first season as a member of the CACC and went 36-16 last year with an appearance in the NCAA East Region Tournament after winning the East Coast Conference tournament title.
• The Purple Knights are 3-6 to start 2023 and are batting .266 with eight extra base hits.
• Gabby Simms has played in all nine games and has a .444 batting average and leads the team with 12 hits and seven RBI. She's also scored five times.
• The Bridgeport pitchers have a collective 4.10 ERA and 28 strikeouts.
• Vise Zarate is 2-1 with a 3.89 ERA in 27.0 innings and leads the team with 19 strikeouts.

 
Tiffin Univ.

• The Dragons compiled a record of 22-28 and went 11-11 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference in 2022.
• Tiffin was picked sixth in the conference preseason poll and is 4-7 to start the 2023 season.
• In 11 games, the Dragons' offense is hitting .286 with 16 doubles, three triples, and two homers.
• Katie Deardorff has 10 hits on the season with four of those being doubles. She also leads the squad with 10 RBI and has scored six times.
• The Dragons have a 5.73 ERA and have struck out 40 batters.
• Isabella St. Peter is 2-2 in six starts with a 3.78 ERA in 33 1/3 innings pitched and has recorded 15 strikeouts.

 
Saint Anselm

• Saint Anselm finished the 2022 season with a record of 28-17 (20-6 NE10) and reached the NCAA East Regional.
• The Hawks were voted third in the conference preseason poll for this year.
• At the beginning of the week, Saint Anselm is 5-1 with the offense hitting .312 with eight doubles, four triples, and five home runs.
• Ava Caputo leads the way hitting .450 with two doubles, three triples, seven RBI, and three runs scored.
• On the pitching side of things, the Hawks have a low 0.72 ERA and have allowed just four earned runs in 39.0 innings while striking out 33.
• Halle Hicks is 3-0 with three complete games and has a 1.00 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 21.0 innings.

 
Notre Dame College (Ohio)

• Notre Dame College went 20-28 (13-17 MEC) last year and was picked fourth in this season's Mountain East preseason poll.
• The Falcons have only played four games in 2023 and are 2-2.
• So far, the offense is hitting .172 with four doubles and the pitching has a 1.00 ERA and 30 strikeouts.

 
California Univ. of Pennsylvania

• The Vulcans finished the 2022 campaign 22-13 (12-4 PSAC) and were voted to finish third in this season's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference standings.
• Cal is 4-2 on the young 2023 season hitting .379 with 18 extra base hits that consists of 12 doubles.
• Charity Henderson has played in all six games and is hitting a hot .579 and leads the team with five doubles and 12 RBI and has also scored seven times.
• In the circle, the Vulcans have a 2.53 ERA and 36 strikeouts.
• Caleigh Rister is 2-0 with a save in three appearances and has not allowed an earned run in 10 1/3 innings pitched and is tied for the team-lead in strikeouts with 12.

 
TAKE A LOOK AHEAD

• The Ichabods will begin MIAA play at home, hosting Newman and No. 9-ranked Central Oklahoma on Friday and Saturday, March 10-11.