O'Fallon, Ill. – The Washburn Ichabods picked up a pair wins on day one of the McKendree Bearcat Classic on Friday. Washburn, who improved to 16-4 overall, will be back in action with two more games on Saturday.
 
Game 1 – Washburn 7, Purdue Northwest 4
As they have done so many times this season, the Ichaobds jumped on the board first scoring three runs taking the early lead. In the first, Marrit Mead led off the inning with a single and then stole second and after Hailey Neira singled and then stole second, Autymn Schreiner drove in Mead with a sac fly and Neira came around to score on an error by the catcher. After Jaycee Ginter drew a walk, Kaylee Wagner doubled to center scoring Ginter.
 
The Pride (7-6) came back with a solo run of their own in the top of the second taking advantage of an Ichabod error cutting the lead to 3-1 and it would remain that way until the bottom of the third when Mariah Wheeler hit a sac fly scoring Gracie Gallagher who entered as a pinch runner for Ginter who was plunked leading off the inning.
 
Neither team scored until the bottom of the sixth when Danielle Schlader started the inning with a double to center and after a Mead RBI single up the middle that scored Zoe Quinn after entering as a pinch runner, Mead stole second and later scored on a ground out by Neira. A double by Schreiner and a single by Ginter that scored Schreiner wrapped up the scoring for the Ichabods.
 
Purdue Northwest scored three runs to cut the lead to three but the Ichabods were able to get out of the inning picking up the win.
 
Mead, Wagner and Schlader all had two hits in the game and six different Ichabods had RBI with Mead scoring twice and stealing two bases. Ginter improved to 7-2 in the circle striking out seven in the game.
 
Game 2 – Washburn 3, Davenport 1
The Ichabods opened the game with a run in the top of the first when Mead reached on a walk and stole second. Mead later came around to score on Schreiner's double. The Panthers knotted the score in the bottom of the frame for their only run of the game.
 
In the fourth, the Ichabods took the lead after Ginter started the game with a double and then came around to score on Erin Boles' sac fly putting Washburn up 2-1.
 
The Ichabods added their final run of the game in the fifth after Jaden LaBarge doubled to right and then stole third base and scored on a throwing error by the catcher putting Washburn up 3-1.
 
Sadie Walker pitched a complete game striking out eight. Ellington Hogle had two hits to lead the Ichabod five hits.