TOPEKA, Kan. – The Washburn Ichabods opened a three-game set with Rogers State and after falling behind 2-0 it was all Washburn the rest of the way as the team topped the Hillcats 12-2 in eight innings pounding out 16 hits in the win. Game two is scheduled for a 4 p.m. first pitch on Friday afternoon.
 
Ichabod starter Caden Bressler improved to 3-2 on the season striking out four. After hitting a pair of Hillcats in the first inning who both came around to score on sac flies, he allowed only three hits the rest of the way picking up the win.
 
After Rogers State (16-13, 8-10 MIAA) took the early lead in its first at bat, the Ichabods came back with three in the first, three more in the second and two additional runs in the third retaking the lead at 8-2. In the first inning, Payton Mcharg took a 2-2 pitch over the right field fence leading off the inning. After singles by Cash Jay and Hayden Priest, Jay scored scoring on of the Hillcats three errors on the afternoon. Jett Buck doubled down the left field line scoring Priest as Washburn platted three in its first at bat.
 
In the second inning, Washburn (17-13, 11-7 MIAA) got things started with Mcharg doubling to left center and he scored on a single by Jay. Priest then tripled down the line driving in Jay and he would come around to score on a throwing error by the Hillcats completing the Little League home run as the Ichabods went up 6-2.
 
Washburn scored two more runs in the third when Connor Scott started the inning with a single and after Grant Jones grounded out to score Scott, Mcharg hit his nation-leading 16th home run of the season going to the opposite field as Washburn stretched its lead to 8-2.
 
After neither team scored in the fourth of fifth innings, Bressler retired the Hillcats in order in the sixth, Washburn added three more runs in the frame taking advantage of two bases-loaded walks given out by Rogers State. In the inning Priest and Blake Scott both singled and Connor Scott walked to load the bases. Cal Watkins drew the first of the free passes and then Jones drew a walk sending Chase Littrell home. After a wild pitch that scored Connor Scott, Washburn had a 11-2 lead after six innings.
 
Washburn left a runner on in the seventh and after two shutout innings from Charlie Kiefer on the hill, the Ichabods closed out the game in the bottom of the eighth after singles by Connor Scott and after a wild pitch, Jones singled to left sending Scott home with the 12-2 run-rule victory.
 
Mcharg, Priest and Connor Scott each had three hits in the game and all three Ichabods also scored three runs each. Mcharg had a double with his two home run game and Jones finished with 3 RBI.
 
Bressler threw 89 pitches in the win tossing six innings scattering three hits while striking out four and Kiefer finished the final two innings striking out one allowing a hit.