TOPEKA, Kan. – On a steamy, windy day at Gahnstrom Field the Washburn Ichabod softball team wrapped up the home slate with a doubleheader sweep over Missouri Southern winning 8-3 and 3-0 on Saturday. Washburn will now have a two week break from game action as they will not return to the field until April 27 when the Ichabods close out the regular season at Emporia State. The MIAA Championships Tournament will start on Wednesday, May 1 in Edmond, Oklahoma hosted by Central Oklahoma.
 
Game 1 – WU 8, MSSU 3
After the Lions took a 3-0 lead after five innings of play, the Ichabods came back in big fashion scoring six runs in the fifth inning running through four Missouri Southern pitchers sending a total of nine batters to the plate to take a 6-3 lead. Mariah Wheeler walked on four straight pitches to start the inning and then after the first pitching change for the Lions, Autymn Schreiner drew a four pitch walk. After back-to-back wild pitches, the second scoring Gracie Gallagher scoring the Ichabods' first run of the day. Madi Moore walked sending another Lion pitcher to the circle. Hailey Neira put down a punt that loaded the bases and then Erin Boles singled moving everyone up 60 feet. On the very next pitch, Marrit Mead singled driving in a run forcing the third Lion pitcher of the inning to enter the game. Alexis Tanguma then followed with a single of her own scoring Neira and then Jaycee Ginter singled driving in two runs finishing the scoring in the inning.
 
Washburn added to more in the sixth after Madi Moore was hit by a pitch and then Neira walked bringing in the Lions' fifth pitcher of the game. Mead then singled loading the bases and after a wild pitch, Moore scored and a sac fly from Tanguma put the Ichabods up 8-3 after Neira scored on the play.
 
The Lions were able to put two on in the top of the seventh, but Sadie Walker's eighth strikeout of the game closed out the win as she improved to 20-6 overall in the circle.
 
Mead led the Ichabods with three of Washburn's seven hits and Tanguma and Ginter each had two RBI in the game.
 
Game 2 – WU 3, MSSU 0
Washburn (36-12, 17-7 MIAA) scored solo runs in the second, third and fifth innings closing out the Gahnstrom Field schedule with a 3-0 win to sweep the doubleheader.
 
Washburn's first run of the nightcap came on an RBI double from Erin Boles that scored Ginter from second after she reached on a walk.
 
In the third, Neira led off the inning with a single then Mead's single to center moved Neira to second. Neira scored on Tanguma's ground out as Washburn went up 2-0.
 
Washburn's final run came in the fifth when Madi Moore started things off with a single and then after a sac bunt by Neira, Washburn's all-time leader in doubles in her final at home at bat connected on her 59th career double as Mead sent Gracie Gallagher home after she entered as a pinch runner.
 
Ginter shut down the Lions in the seventh picking up her eighth strikeout in the process as she moved to 16-6 on the season scattering four hits in the win.
 
Mead had two hits in the game.