TOPEKA, Kan. – Washburn baseball saw its 13-game winning streak come to an end on a rainy Saturday afternoon with a 4-2 loss in 10 innings to Northeastern State. The rubber match will take place on Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Ichabods (14-8, 7-1 MIAA) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
Cal Watkins battled for an eight-pitch leadoff walk and then moved over to third on a single by
Trey Adams and then error in left field on the same play.
Easton Bruce was up next and recorded an infield single to bring in one run. Although Bruce was caught stealing at second base a few pitches later, Adams was able to score on the throw down.
Rane Pfeifer turned in a solid start for Washburn as he went 5 1/3 innings without allowing a hit and just three walks in that time. With one out in the top of the sixth, Northeastern State (10-9, 4-4 MIAA) hit a double to right center and then scored on a single up the middle to cut Washburn's lead in half, 2-1. Pfeifer ended the inning with back-to-back strikeouts.
The Ichabods made a pitching change at the beginning of the eighth and the RiverHawks led off with two-consecutive singles. Northeastern State knotted up the score with a two-out RBI single through the left side.
Neither team got a runner past first base in the final inning and a half before extra frames were required with the score locked at 2-2.
The RiverHawks started the 10th with a single to right center and that batter made his way around the bases with a stolen base and a wild pitch. With two outs, NSU drew a walk and then scored a run on a single to right center. Northeastern State added an unearned run a batter later to go up, 4-2.
The Ichabods made some noise in the bottom of the 10th after
Otto Jones was hit by a pitch with two outs and Watkins reached on a fielding error, but both runners were left stranded after a fly out to end the game.
Northeastern State finished the afternoon out-hitting Washburn, 7-4. Bruce was 2-4 with an RBI. Adams and
Blake Scott each had one hit.
Pfeifer received a no-decision after going seven innings and allowing one run on two hits and three walks while striking out a career-high 13. He recorded four 1-2-3 innings and struck out the side his last inning out.
