CLERMONT, Fla. -- No. 18 Washburn Ichabod softball (17-3) extended its winning streak to nine games on Thursday morning with two wins on day one of The Spring Games in Clermont, Florida. Washburn won 2-1 over Dominican University of New York (1-6) in game one and finished the day with a 9-2 win against the University of Bridgeport (3-7). The Ichabods return to action tomorrow for two more games beginning with Tiffin University (Ohio) at 8 a.m. central time.
Game one: Washburn 2, Dominican University 1
Jaycee Ginter got the start in the circle for the Ichabods and went the distance, allowing one run on six hits with just one walk and five strikeouts. It is the fifth time this season that Ginter has tossed at least seven innings in a game.
After Ginter struck out the side to begin the game Washburn got on the scoreboard early. Paige Robbins led off with a single past the shortstop and was moved to third on a double by Hadley Kerschen. Marrit Mead applied the pressure, reaching on an error by the third baseman allowing Robbins to score from third.
The Chargers evened the score in the top of the third inning with one hit by pitch and three straight singles off Ginter to score the one and only run she allowed in the game and make it 1-1.
Washburn got its first earned run of the game in the bottom of the fourth starting with a two-out double by Autymn Schreiner into right field. Kimi Patterson quickly brought her home with a single into center field to break the tie.
Ginter allowed only one hit in the final three innings to move to 13-1 in the circle on the season. Robbins collected two of Washburn's five hits in the game.
Game two: Washburn 9, Bridgeport 2
Playing as the road team in game two the Ichabods jumped on the Knights, scoring two runs before they picked up a bat. Robbins led off the game with a triple into right field and Kerschen immediately deposited a ball into center field for a single and an RBI. Two batters later Jaden LaBarge singled past the shortstop scoring Ginter who reached on an error.
Sheyenne Cheek got the start in the circle and ended up going five innings, allowing two runs on two hits with two walks while striking out seven Bridgeport hitters.
After a scoreless second Washburn got back on the board in the third. Mead reached on an error and LaBarge followed with a single. The two executed a double steal putting both in scoring position. Danielle Schlader grounded out on the right side, scoring Mead from third and Schreiner followed with a single to right field to add another run and make it 4-0.
The Ichabods blew the game open in the fourth beginning with a single by Kerschen. She came all the way around to score on a sacrifice bunt by Ginter accompanied by an error by the Knight's first baseman. With the bases clear and two outs Mead began the line again with a single and LaBarge followed suit. Schlader brought them both home with a double into right field to make it 7-0.
Bridgeport got two runs back in the bottom of the inning with a double and a home run both coming with two outs, trimming the lead to five.
Ginter entered the circle in the sixth, allowing one hit with no runs.
Washburn got two more in the top of the seventh starting with a double by Schlader. She was pinch ran for by Gracie Gallagher and was moved to third by a single from Schreiner. Patterson reached base on a fielders choice as Gallagher was called out on a play at the plate. Robbins' scored both baserunners anyway with her second triple of the game to make it 9-2.
Sadie Walker pitch the seventh inning and sat down Bridgeport, ending the game with a double play. Cheek earned the win to improve to 2-0 on the season. LaBarge had three of Washburn's 12 hits in the game, five players finished with multi-hit performances while Schlader also drove in three.
