JOPLIN, Mo. -- Washburn scored three runs in the eighth inning to come from behind and defeat No. 8 Missouri Southern 7-5 on Saturday afternoon. The Ichabods and Lions will play the series rubber match on Sunday with first pitch at 1 p.m.
Cooper Carlgren got the ball to start for Washburn and delivered a 1-2-3 first inning for the visitors. The Ichabods (16-11, 10-5 MIAA) got a single from Blake Scott with one out in the second inning, he moved to second on a single by Connor Scott and was brought home on another single, this time from Grant Jones to open the scoring.
In the bottom of the inning Missouri Southern (25-6, 12-3 MIAA) got two runs across with two outs after a hit batter and a single scored on a double into right center. Washburn took advantage of an error by the Lions putting Cash Jay on first. He was moved to third on another error and scored on a sacrifice fly from Jett Buck to even the score.
Carlgren kept the bats of Missouri Southern quiet in the bottom of the third. The 1-2-3 inning was the first of four straight scoreless frames that he would toss to complete his outing with six innings, five strikeouts and only five hits allowed.
In the top of the fifth Cale Savage walked with one out and moved to second on a single by Jay, they both advanced a base on a wild pitch. Hayden Priest gave Washburn the lead with a sacrifice fly to left and Buck added to it, hitting a single into right field.
The Lions were able to re-take the lead in the seventh inning getting two on base via a single and hit batter before a home run over the left field wall. The next half inning Blake Scott led off with a double. A single from Cal Watkins put two on base and Connor Scott delivered a single to score one and tie the game. Jones kept the rally going with a single to score Watkins and the Ichabods completed the three-run inning on a double steal from Scott and Jones.
After finishing off the seventh inning on the mound Logan Bartlett kept the score at 7-5 in the bottom of the eighth. In the bottom of the ninth Fidel Hatch entered and did the same thing, finishing out the game with a strikeout.
On the mound Washburn tallied eight strikeouts and allowed eight hits with just two walks issued. Bartlett got the win to move to 1-0 on the year and Hatch notched his first save of the season.
The Ichabods got 13 hits in the game, led by three from Connor Scott. Jett Buck and Grant Jones each had two hits and drove in two runs as well.
