• The No. 20-ranked Washburn Ichabod softball team will start an eight-game road trip beginning with Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State this weekend starting Friday in Joplin.
• The Ichabods (31-9, 10-6 MIAA) split a pair of MIAA doubleheaders for the second week in home action against Fort Hays State and Nebraska-Kearney.
• Brenda Holaday is in her seventh season as the Ichabod softball head coach recording a 209-125 overall record going 101-49 in MIAA contests leading the Ichabods to their first two MIAA Regular Season titles (2018, 2022), and NCAA Central Regional berths in those years as well, the fourth and fifth in school history.
• With her 209 wins at Washburn, Holaday has tied Kim Newbern for second on the all-time wins chart. Lisa Carey is the all-time winningest coach by victories at 256.
• The Ichabods have recorded their 19th, 30-win season in program history and their third under Holaday.
• The Ichabods finished the 2022 season with a 45-15 mark going 24-2 in the MIAA winning their third MIAA regular season title while earning an at-large bid for their fifth NCAA postseason tournament with a runner-up finish at the MIAA Championship Tournament.
• Washburn was tabbed second in the MIAA Preseason Coaches poll behind the defending NCAA Division II Champion Rogers State, who finished second in the MIAA regular season standings and topped the Ichabods in the MIAA Tournament Championship game.
• In 2022, the Ichabods recorded their first 40-win season since 2002 when the Ichabods went 48-11 giving the Ichabods four seasons with at least 40 wins - 41 (1999), 48 (2002) and 50 (1986) and 2022's 45 wins. • Marrit Mead is 11th in the nation in hits with 57.
• Jaycee Ginter is fourth in the nation with 21 wins in the circle, she is second in strikeouts with 211. Ginter is first in the nation in pitching appearances with 35. On the active career charts, Ginter is 10th in strikeouts with 601.
• The Ichabods have gone 11-1 when hitting at least one home run.
• This season the Ichabods have outscored opponents in every inning except the third (21 to 19) and the seventh (11 to 11). Overall Washburn has outscored opponents 197 to 93.
• When Washburn scores first they are 22-4 and 18-4 when they score in the first inning.
• When the Ichabods lead after the fourth inning they are 23-1 and 19-0 when leading after the fifth inning and 22-0 when leading after the sixth inning.
• The Ichabods are 19-1 when scoring at least five runs … the lone loss came in a 12-10 loss to No. 6 Central Oklahoma on March 12. • The Ichabods were 2-2 last week after splitting a pair of doubleheaders against Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State.
• Hadley Kerschen led the Ichabods with seven hits in 13 at bats with 4 RBI for a .538 batting average and Ellington Hogle was 4 for 7 with three runs scored batting .571.
• Marrit Mead was 3 for 3 in stolen bases and scored a team-high five runs.
• Jaycee Ginter drove in four runs and struck out 17 batters in 16 innings. TOPEKA, Kan. – The No. 17-ranked Washburn softball team's rally came up short in the opener, but led from start to finish gaining a split with Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday at Gahnstrom Field.
Game 1 – UNK 3, WU 2
The Lopers scored two runs in the top of the third and then added one more in the top of the sixth taking a 3-0 lead entering the bottom of the frame. In the ensuing at bat, the Ichabods' (31-9, 10-6 MIAA) Ellington Hogle recorded a one-out single and then after Marrit Mead's double to left center, both came around to score on a single to center by Hadley Kerschen, however the Ichabods finished the inning with a hard-hit lineout and a strike out ending the rally.
The Lopers (14-24, 5-9 MIAA) went down in order in the top of the seventh. In the bottom of the seventh, the Ichabods' Jaden LaBarge led off the inning with a walk and then entering as a pinch runner for LaBarge, Gracie Gallagher moved to second on a sac bunt by Paige Robbins, but she would advance no more as the game came to an end in the 3-2 loss.
Jaycee Ginter fell to 21-6 in the circle striking out 10 scattering five hits in the complete game. Five different batters had a single hit for the Ichabods.
Game 2 – WU 7, UNK 0
The Ichabods wasted little time jumping on UNK starter Madison Rosenthal who picked up the save in the opening game by scoring one run in the first inning then adding two more in the second leading from start to finish in the nightcap.
In the first, Mead singled to left and then moved to 24 for 24 in stolen bases by swiping second base and moved to third on Kerschens' single to left. Mead came home to score when Kerschen was thrown out at second on a steal attempt as the Ichabods went up 1-0.
In the second inning, Jenna More drew a one-out walk and moved up 60 feet after Hogle dropped a sac bunt leading to the UNK pitching change. On Stacy Bott's second pitch Mead sent a pitch over the left field fence adding to the Ichabod lead as Washburn led 3-0.
The Ichabods were held scoreless in the third inning but added two more in the fourth when Kaylee Wagner led off the inning with a single and Allison Hemsath entered as a pinch runner. After Hemsath stole second base, Moore singled down the left field line sending Hemsath home leading to another pitching change for the Lopers. Hogle singled and then Kerschen singled off of Faith Gaynor's (who picked up the win in game one for the Lopers) leg on a hot shot up the middle, sending Moore home as Washburn pushed the lead to 5-0.
In the sixth, the Ichabods scored two more times on five hits as Moore started things off with a single winning the 11-pitch at bat moving to second after a single by Hogle. Mead singled to center loading the bases. After a fielder's choice, Ginter singled to right driving in both Mead and Hogle wrapping up the scoring for the Ichabods.
Sadie Walker picked up the winning improving to 5-3 overall tossing a career-high six inning tying a career-high with seven strikeouts before giving away to Sheyenne Cheek who pitched the final inning.
Mead had three hits pacing the Ichabods 12-hit attack while Kerschen, Moore and Hogle each had two hits. Mead also scored three times and Moore scored twice in the win. 
  MISSOURI SOUTHERN
• The Lions 28-7 and 13-1 in the MIAA while receiving votes in the NFCA top 25 poll.
• MSSU has won their its last 10 games in a row going without a loss since March 25.
• The Ichabods lead the series 53-51 and have won the last five in a row.
 
PITTSBURG STATE
• The Gorillas are 22-14 this year and 7-7 in the MIAA.
• PSU is 13-1 in home games this year.
• PSU has last three in a row entering the weekend.
• The Gorillas will face Emporia State on April 14 before facing the Ichabods the following day.
• The Ichabods lead the series 75-58 and have won 9 of the last 10 meetings.
  • is 209-125 in her seventh season as the Ichabod head softball coach.
• in six seasons under Holaday, Washburn has had 29 all-MIAA picks, one MIAA player of the year, one MIAA Pitcher of the Year, two MIAA Freshmen of the year and 14 all-region selections and five All-American picks.
• coached 19 seasons at Washburn Rural High School in Topeka compiling a 351-93 record.
• led the Junior Blues to three 6A state championships as well as winning 14 league championships earning 16 6A state tournament berths, five second-place state finishes and three third-place state finishes and was inducted into the Washburn Rural High School Hall of Fame in 2018.
• was named the Centennial League Coach of the Year and City Coach of the Year nine different times earning the Midwest Sectional Coach of the Year in 2011 and the 6A Kansas Coach of the year two times in 2008 and 2011 and was named the overall Kansas Coach of the Year in 2011.
• while at Washburn Rural, she coached more than 40 players who have gone on to play college softball including three at the NCAA Division I level including former Ichabod head softball coach Lisa Carey, the winningest coach by wins in program history. • The Ichabods are 1,276-944-1 in their 53rd year of softball.
• The Ichabods have made five NCAA Tournament appearances (1999, 2006, 2008, 2018, 2022).
• Washburn won the 2002, 2018 and 2022 regular season MIAA titles.