TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn scored four runs in the first inning and tallied 16 hits in the game to top Rogers State in the series rubber match 15-7 on Saturday afternoon. The Ichabods take on Rockhurst in Kansas City, Mo. on Tuesday, April 1 at 3 p.m.
The Hillcats (17-14, 9-11 MIAA) started hitting from the jump, with a single to start the game that hit off the hand of starter Chase Torkelson. A walk put two runners on base and a single scored one. They got another run on an RBI groundout and Torkelson was able to work around the early trouble.
Washburn (18-14, 12-8 MIAA) was quick to respond as Cale Savage knocked a triple off the wall in straight away center to score Payton McHarg who led off the game getting hit by a pitch. Cash Jay drove a ball off the wall in right field for a double, tying the game. Jett Buck put the Ichabods in front with a blast down the right field line to cap off a four-run first.
In the third inning Washburn loaded the bases with a single, walk and hit batter. They added to the lead with Buck brining in a run for a second consecutive inning with a sacrifice fly.
In the fourth inning Grant Jones led off with the second triple of the day for the Ichabods. He was driven home on a sacrifice fly into right field by Teagan Tamiya to make the deficit four runs.
After the first inning Torkelson settled in on the mound, throwing three straight scoreless innings and holding the Hillcats hitless in that span. After a one-out walk Rogers State got a single to put two on in the fifth. They were able to cut the lead down to one run with a three-run homer to right field.
Tamiya led off the home half with a single and the bases were loaded after Otto Jones and McHarg walked. Savage snuck a single through the left side of the infield, scoring two. One batter later Buck hit it in the same spot, scoring McHarg to make it 9-5 after five innings.
Fidel Hatch took over on the mound for Washburn in the sixth and was able to hold the lead as the Hillcats scored one run on one hit with an RBI groundout. In the bottom of the inning the Ichabods got the run back and then some with back-to-back home runs from Otto Jones and Payton McHarg as the order was turned over to make it an 11-6 game.
Neither side scored in the seventh and Rogers State was held in check in the eighth. In the bottom of the inning Washburn added to its lead with Savage knocking through another single to score Otto Jones. Trey Adams pinch hit a single into right field, scoring McHarg who was hit to reach base. Cal Watkins followed with a second straight single to bring one more around and another run scored on a balk to push the lead up to nine after eight.
Jayden Payne took over on the mound in the ninth and the Hillcats got one run across as Kai Bennett was able to finish the game off with the final two outs to secure the series victory.
Washburn tallied 16 hits in the game led by three each from Payton Mcharg, Cale Savage and Jett Buck. Savage and Buck combined to drive in eight runs with four each and McHarg reached base in all six appearances.
On the mound the Ichabods tallied seven strikeouts while allowing six hits and walking six as well. Chase Torkelson picked up the win going five innings and striking out six to move to 4-0 on the season.
