WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- Washburn baseball rallied for five runs in the ninth inning to finish on top in a back-and-forth battle at No. 24 Central Missouri on Saturday afternoon, 12-9. The series rubber match is set for Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
Central Missouri (23-9, 15-4 MIAA) started the scoring in the bottom of the first with a pair of runs on a two-out double. The Mules increased their lead to 3-0 in the third with a solo home run that was also hit with two outs.
 
Washburn (21-12, 14-5 MIAA) got on the board in the top of the fourth with a leadoff bomb by Cale Savage.
 
In the fifth inning, the Mules struggled with command and walked three-consecutive Ichabods with two outs. Central Missouri brought in a new pitcher to face Savage, who ripped a three-run double on the first pitch to give the Ichabods a 4-3 advantage.
 
The Mules threatened in the home half of the fifth with a runner on third, but the Ichabods recorded the final out on a successful pitch out and caught the runner attempting to steal home.
 
Washburn created more two-out magic in the sixth inning to increase their lead to 7-3. Easton Bruce and Blake Scott were both walked and later scored on a single by Andrew Paulsey. Trevor McCollum doubled on an 0-2 pitch that drove in Paulsey.
 
Central Missouri reclaimed the lead with a five-run bottom of the sixth and added an insurance run in the eighth inning to go up, 9-7.
 
Trailing by two, McCollum led off the ninth with a walk and moved over to third on a single by Cal Watkins. Ike Book was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Adams brought in a run with a sacrifice fly to center field and  Bruce knocked in the tying run with a single to left. The Ichabods kept attacking and took the lead on a two-RBI double by Andrew Schmidtlein. A UCM wild pitch followed by a passed ball allowed Schmidtlein to score and make the score 12-9 in favor of Washburn.
 
Washburn recorded the first out of the bottom of the ninth on the first pitch before surrendering a double. The Mules laid down a sacrifice bunt to get the runner over to third, but that's where he was left stranded as the game ended on a groundout to second base.
 
Central Missouri out hit Washburn, 12-10, but left eight runners on base compared to the Ichabods' five. Savage was a triple shy of the cycle as he finished the day 3-5 with four RBI. Both of Schmidtlein's hits were doubles and he was responsible for three of Washburn's five runs in the ninth. Paulsey was 1-3 with a walk, two runs scored, and two RBI.
 
On the mound, Griffin Huiatt earned the win and improved to 2-1 overall this season. He allowed only one hit in his 1 1/3 innings of work. Charlie Kiefer got the final two outs of the game to receive his third save.