TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn battled back from an early six run deficit, scoring three in the eighth inning to win 10-9 in game one over Fort Hays State. First pitch for game two is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday.
The Tigers (21-18, 9-16 MIAA) led off the game with the first four hitters reaching base, the fourth hitting a double that plated a pair of runs. With one out a single into center field scored two more. The next inning Fort Hays State got a one-out single followed by a home run to left field to score two more and make it 6-0 after an inning and a half.
Caden Bressler sat down the Tigers in the third, ending the inning with a double play. Grant Jones worked a leadoff walk and was scored on a double off the wall in right field from Payton McHarg to put Washburn (21-16, 15-10 MIAA)on the board. Cale Savage traded places with him, mashing a double to left center.
Bressler tossed two more scoreless innings to finish his day throwing 91 pitches across five innings and striking out two. In the bottom of the fifth Savage led off with a walk and the lead was cut in half with a two-run homer from Jett Buck to left field.
Walks from Cal Watkins and Blake Scott put two runners on. Connor Scott beat out an infield single to second base and Watkins was able to score on a throwing error with both Scott's moving up a base. Jones reached on an error by the second baseman and two more runs came around to score and put Washburn in front.
Cole Warner tossed a scoreless sixth inning as neither team scored in the frame. In the seventh a leadoff double followed by a pair of groundouts was enough to tie the game for Fort Hays State. An inning later a pair of walks put two on base with one out. A passed ball allowed one to score from second base and a single scored another and the Tigers went up by two.
Cash Jay led off the home half of the inning with a double and Buck was able to reach with an infield single. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch and were able to score on a triple to the wall in right center off the bat of Priest to tie the game. Watkins put Washburn on top with a sacrifice fly to center field as the game moved into the ninth.
Charlie Kiefer took over on the mound in the ninth and was able to work around a leadoff double, stranding two and taking game one of the series.
The Ichabods tagged 10 hits in the game with two each coming from Connor Scott and Jett Buck. Both Buck and Hayden Priest also drove in two runs. Cale Savage went 1-2 and worked three walks.
Logan Bartlett got the win moving to 2-1 on the year while Kiefer picked up his first save of the season. The Washburn staff struck out five total in the game.
Elliott Herrmann had three hits for Fort Hays State and drove in three runs.
