PITTSBURG, Kan. – Washburn scored a pair of runs in the first inning and never trailed in Friday's rainy 9-6 game one victory at Pittsburg State. Game two of the series is set for Saturday at 2 p.m.
Leadoff man
Andrew Schmidtlein reached base after getting hit by the first pitch of the game and moved up to second base on a sacrifice bunt from
Cal Watkins. On a 2-2 count,
Cale Savage singled through the left side to bring in the first run of the evening.
Ike Book and
Trey Adams hit back-to-back singles to load up the bases and
Easton Bruce brought in a run with a sacrifice fly to give the Ichabods a 2-0 lead in the opening inning.
Washburn (28-19, 20-11 MIAA) starter
Casey Steward retired the first five batters he faced while recording three strikeouts, but Pittsburg State broke through with two outs in the second inning with a home run to right center field. The Gorillas (30-16, 20-11 MIAA) followed that up with two singles and a walk to juice the bases, but all three runners were left stranded after a groundout.
In the fourth inning, Book and Bruce both landed singles to put runners on first and second. With two outs,
Caden Bressler drove in a run with a single to left field. Catcher
Otto Jones stepped up to the plate and held a 2-2 count when he hit the ball into the air and the Pittsburg State center field made a diving attempt, tripped the right fielder, and the ball went rolling to the fence as Jones sped around the bases. Jones beat the throw home on the inside the park home run that brought in three runs and pushed Washburn's lead to 6-1.
Pittsburg State got one run in the bottom of the fourth after a leadoff walk eventually came around to score on a fielder's choice.
Bruce drew a walk to begin the sixth inning and made his way to third base on Jones' double to right field. Yet again, the Ichabods got a run across with two outs as Bruce scored on a balk committed by the Gorillas' pitcher to increase Washburn's lead to 7-2.
The Ichabods went up 9-2 an inning later after Savage doubled to left field and then Book launched a two-run home run over the fence in right.
The Gorillas trimmed the deficit to 9-6 in the home half of the seventh inning after collecting four runs on five hits and an error.
Jayden Payne ended the threat with a bases loaded strikeout to conclude the inning.
Still trailing by three at the start of the ninth frame, Pittsburg State got its leadoff batter on base with a walk, but it was quickly erased with a double play.
Chase Torkelson closed the door with a strikeout to end the game.
The Ichabods finished with one more hit than the Gorillas, 13-12. Book went 4-5 at the plate with a home run, two RBI, and two runs scored. Jones was 2-4 with a three-run inside the park home run and a double. Bruce was 2-2 with a walk, two runs scored, and two RBI.
Steward (4-4) earned the win going five innings and surrendering only two runs on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
Cal Leonard tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings and struck out three. Torkelson captured his second save on the year after closing out the ninth.
