ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- Washburn baseball opened the three-game set at Missouri Western with a 4-3 victory on Friday afternoon. The Ichabods will play game two on Saturday at 2 p.m.
 
Missouri Western (5-19, 2-12 MIAA) scored the first run of the day in the bottom of the second with a two-out single up the middle.
 
The score stayed at 1-0 until the bottom of the fifth when Caden Bressler got things going with a single to right field and then moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt by Otto Jones. With one out, Cal Watkins drove in Bressler with a single to level the score.
 
The Ichabods (18-10, 11-3 MIAA) added to their lead the following inning. Easton Bruce led off the frame and reached base after getting hit by the pitch. Cale Savage singled through the left side to put runners on the corners for Trevor McCollum, who drove in a run with a single to right field. Ike Book kept the line moving when he ripped a triple down the right field line to put Washburn up, 4-1.
 
The Griffons trimmed the deficit to one after scoring one run in eighth and ninth innings, but Chase Torkelson came on and retired each of the three batters he faced in the final inning to receive the save.
 
Washburn landed 10 hits on the afternoon while Missouri Western had seven. McCollum was 3-4 at the plate with an RBI and run scored. Savage and Bressler were both 2-4 and scored once.
 
On the mound, Casey Steward improved to 2-1 on the season after his six inning start and allowed just one run, three hits, and two walks while striking out seven.