ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Washburn escaped a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth to hold on to a 6-4 victory at Missouri Western on Saturday afternoon. First pitch of the final game of the series is set for noon on Sunday.
Cal Watkins led off the game with a double to left center and moved over to third after a walk and a hit by pitch loaded the bases. Although the Ichabods hit into a double play, a run scored to give Washburn an early 1-0 advantage.
In the home half of the first, Missouri Western's (5-20, 2-13 MIAA) leadoff man knotted up the score with one swing after a home run to left field.
The Ichabods (19-10, 12-3 MIAA) broke the tie score in the third inning and went up 2-1 after
Easton Bruce singled in
Cale Savage.
Washburn extended its lead to 6-1 in the fourth inning with four runs on two hits and an error.
Caden Bressler drew a one out walk and moved over to third base on a single by
Blake Scott before scoring on a wild pitch. With two on and two out, Savage drove in both runners on base with a triple to left center. The final run of the frame was scored after an error by the second baseman extended the inning.
The Griffons scored an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth and plated a pair of runs in the fifth to trim the deficit tot 6-4.
Mickey Coyne took over on the mound in the sixth inning and retired the first seven batters in a row he faced. He surrendered only one hit in the eighth, but left the runner stranded at the end of the inning.
Still trailing 6-4 heading to the bottom of the ninth, Missouri Western made things interesting and had the bases loaded with one out.
Charlie Kiefer closed the door and got the final out on a 3-2 count caught-looking strikeout.
Washburn's offense had a 10-6 advantage in hits. Scott was 3-4 at the plate with a run scored. Savage was responsible for four of the Ichabods' runs as he drove in a pair of runs and scored twice. Watkins and
Trey Adams both scored once.
Rane Pfeifer earned the win and improved to 2-1 on the season. In the start, he threw five innings and allowed four runs, three of which were earned, on three hits and five walks and recorded five strikeouts. Coyne tossed three scoreless innings and allowed only one hit. Kiefer received the save after closing out the ninth.
