TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn baseball plays its final non-conference games of the regular season this week beginning with a home game against Emporia State that does not court towards the conference standings at 5 p.m. and a road game with Southern Nazarene on Wednesday at 3 p.m.
LEADING OFF
>> Washburn baseball begins the final week of the regular season with a home non-conference game against Emporia State on Tuesday at 5 p.m. and a road contest against Southern Nazarene at 3 p.m. on Wednesday.
>> Last time out the Ichabods won 11-9 over No. 21 Central Oklahoma in the series finale on Sunday.
>> Washburn is now 24-19 overall on the year and 18-12 inside the MIAA. They are 14-7 at Falley Field, 9-12 on the road and 1-0 in neutral field games.
>> The Hornets enter the series with a 19-27 record on the year and a 9-21 record inside the MIAA after losing last weeken's series to Fort Hays State 2-1.
>> The Storm enter the game with a 12-33 record on the year and a 6-23 mark in the GAC after losing their last series to Ouachita Baptist.
>> The Ichabods are coming off a second straight 30-win season in 2023 where they went 30-22 (21-12 MIAA) and finished tied for third in the MIAA Regular Season.
>> Washburn plays its final conference series of the regular season on the road against Northeastern State beginning on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
>> In the 2024 MIAA Coaches Preseason Poll, the Ichabods were picked fourth after finishing tied for third in the 2023 regular season.
>> Washburn's roster consists of 26 returners from a season ago along with 25 newcomers broken down between 15 transfers and 10 true freshmen.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
>> Through 40 games Washburn is scoring 9.02 runs per game while allowing 7.60.
>> The Ichabods are 14-7 at Falley Field, 9-12 in road contests and 1-0 in neutral field games.
>> At the plate the Ichabods are hitting .320 with a .415 OB% and are slugging .568 as a team. They have 81 home runs and have drawn 214 walks.
>> Washburn's pitching staff has an ERA of 7.40 this season in 368.2 IP. They have struck out 316 batters while allowing 408 hits and issuing 235 walks.
>> The Ichabods have a .969 fielding percentage with 48 errors on the year and have turned 34 double plays.
>> On the basepaths Washburn has stolen 43 bases on 56 attempts while opponents have 53 stolen bases and have been thrown out 12 times.
>> The Ichabod hitters have collected 864 total bases while opponents are at 720 this year.
>> Washburn is starting and finishing games strong, outscoring opponents 54-32 in the first inning and 30-22 in the ninth. In extras they also have a 4-2 run edge.
STACKING THE STATS
>> The Ichabods are second in the nation in home runs per game with an average of 1.88 balls leaving the yard each game on the year.
>> In overall long balls the Ichabods are second in the nation with 81 blasts.
>> The Ichabods are tied for 10th in the nation and are third in the conference in doubles with 106 hits going for two bases on the year.
>> Washburn is 16th in the nation in hits on the year with 487 total knocks, third most in the conference.
>> The Ichabods are 7th in the nation and second in the conference with a .568 SLG% on the year.
>> Scoring 9.0 runs per game WU is 18th in the nation and scoring in the MIAA in that department.
>> With a batting average of .320 as a team Washburn is 39th in the nation and second in the MIAA at racking up hits.
>> Washburn is fifth in the MIAA and 34th in the nation turning 34 double plays on the year.
>> The Ichabod fielders are 52nd in the nation and fifth in the conference with a .969 fielding percentage on the year.
AROUND THE ORDER
>> Payton McHarg has started and played in all 43 games for the Ichabods hitting .349 with a 1.221 OPS and a team-high 18 home runs and 51 RBI. He has scored 54 runs and has 58 total hits. He is 3rd in the nation in home runs, 31st in glugging, and 46th in RBI.
>> Cash Jay is tied for second on the team hitting .349 in 41 games played with 40 starts. He has the second highest OPS at 1.110 with a team-high 18 doubles. He also has 12 home runs and has driven in 49. He is 11th in the nation in doubles, 49th in home runs and ranks in the top-10 in the conference in both categories.
>> Jett Buck is fourth on the team at .327 in 40 appearances and 39 starts this season. He has 52 hits, 11 doubles, a triple, 13 home runs and five stolen bases. He is tied for 4th in the MIAA in home runs and is 20th in SLG%.
>> Connor Scott is hitting a team-high .350 on the year in 41 games played with 38 starts. He has a .953 OPS and a team-high 13 stolen bases to pair with three home runs and a pair of triples to drive in 22 runs. He is second in the conference in sacrifice bunts and 9th in doubles.
>> Cale Savage has the third highest OPS on the squad at 1.075 with 55 hits and 11 home runs while starting in all 43 games this season. He leads the team drawing 38 walks on the year for a .452 OB%. He is 25th in the nation and 4th in the MIAA in walks and is 11th in the conference in home runs.
>> Hayden Priest has started in 40 of the 41 games he has appeared in and is hitting .329 on the year with a .942 OPS. He has 51 hits driving in 49 runs and has only struck out 22 times in 155 at bats.
>> Cal Watkins has played in 36 games and made 32 starts hitting .282 with 23 RBI, 11 doubles and four home runs.
>> Blake Scott has made 14 starts and played in 27 games this season hitting .327 with a 1.046 OPS and a pair of home runs.
>> Grant Jones hast played in 31 games and made 19 starts. He is hitting .297 on the year with a .464 OB% and 15 RBI.
>> Easton Bruce has played in 17 games and started 16 while hitting .314 on the year with one home run and nine RBI from the outfield.
ON THE MOUND
>> Seventeen players have taken the mound this season for Washburn.
>> Cooper Carlgren leads the Ichabods with 57.1 innings across 11 starts this season. He has a 6.59 ERA and a 3-3 record along with a team-high 57 strikeouts. Hitters have a .266 batting average against him. He is 9th in the MIAA in strikeouts.
>> Caden Bressler has thrown 47.1 innings in 13 outings this season, with seven starts and six bullpen calls. He has a 5.70 ERA, lowest among starting pitchers, a 3-3 record and 26 strikeouts with 45 hits allowed. He leads the team with a pair of saves and is 10th in the MIAA in hits allowed per nine innings.
>> Griffin Huiatt is third on the Ichabods throwing 49.1 innings this season in 14 appearances with six starts for a 6.39 ERA. He has a 2-3 record and is second on the team with 48 strikeouts.
>> Chase Torkelson is second on the team throwing 53.0 innings across 12 starts this season with a 4-0 record for the most wins on the squad. He has a 7.64 ERA, has struck out 39 batters and walked 34 hitters.
>> Charlie Kiefer is 3-2 this season throwing in 16 games total with two start. He has a 5.93 ERA in 27.1 innings of work. He has struck out 14 batters with one save.
>> Fidel Hatch has thrown in 14 games this season making one start with a 7.86 ERA. In 26.1 innings he has struck out 22 while giving up 30 hits.
>> Cole Warner has thrown 14.1 innings in 14 appearances out of the bullpen with a 7.53 ERA and a 1-0 record. He has struck out 13 on the year .
>> Max Clark has eight appearances and made two starts throwing 10.1 total innings with a 6.97 ERA. He has an 0-1 record and has struck out nine batters.
>> Sam Wragge is 1-0 on the year with a 4.50 ERA across 8.0 innings in nine appearances.
IN THE FIELD
>> Jett Buck leads the team with 93 assists, Cal Watkins is second with 80 and Cash Jay rounds out the infield with 73.
>> Excluding first basemen and catchers, Connor Scott leads the team with 103 putouts, Payton McHarg has 70.
>> Hayden Priest has thrown out eight baserunners from behind the plate.
HEAD COACH HARLEY DOUGLAS
>> Former Washburn All-MIAA outfielder Harley Douglas enters his 10th season at the helm of the Washburn baseball program in 2024.
>> In nine plus seasons, Douglas carries an all-time record of 248-215 with five appearances in the MIAA Tournament and led the program to its first-ever NCAA Tournament in 2022.
>> He has also coached a total of 54 All-MIAA selections, including the MIAA Player and Pitcher of the Year in 2016.
>> Prior to returning to his alma mater in 2012 he was the head coach at St. Marys HS from 2003-06 and at Rossville HS from 2007-10.
>> Douglas is a two-time Washburn graduate, receiving his Exercise Physiology degree in 2002 before earning an Education degree in 2004. He also earned a Master's Degree in Adaptive Special Education from Emporia State in 2010.
ASSISTANT COACHES
>> Connor Crimmins is in his sixth season with the Ichabods after spending the prior two seasons on Brad Hill's Kansas State staff serving as a graduate assistant
>> While at Washburn, Crimmins played both football and baseball, finishing his career on the diamond top 10 in sacrifice flies (4th/11), doubles (6th/38) and RBI (t-7th/132), while having the 12th-most at-bats (575).
>> He graduated from Washburn in 2016 with his bachelor's and earned his master's in college student development and counseling from K-State.
>> Rane Pfeifer joins the Ichabod coaching staff in 2024 after wrapping up a three-year career with Washburn in 2023
>> He finished his career second all-time in opponent batting average (.218), third in games started (36), fourth in strikeouts (210) and 19th in innings pitched (165.2)
>> Pfeifer graduated from Washburn with a bachelor's degree in business management in May 2022
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
EMPORIA STATE HORNETS
>> The Hornets enter the series with a 19-27 record on the year and a 9-21 record inside the MIAA after losing last weeken's series to Fort Hays State 2-1.
>> They have gone 5-13 in true road games away from Trusler Sports Complex.
>> A season ago they went 18-31 overall with a 12-21 record inside of the MIAA, missing out on the conference tournament.
>> Emporia State's offense is hitting .269 on the year with a .390 OB%, 439 SLG% and 56 home runs.
>> Kadyn Williams leads the Hornets hitting .335 with a 1.073 OPS starting all 46 games. He has 10 home runs and 51 RBI with a team-high eight stolen bases.
>> Logan Myers has played in 42 games and made 40 starts wtih a .304 average and a .914 OPS, both second highest on the team. He has six home runs and has driven in 29.
>> On the mound, Emporia State's staff has a 6.51 ERA in 383.0 innings with 332 strikeouts and 147 walks issued.
>> Cade Barton leads ESU with 62.1 innings pitched in 10 starts. He has a 3.18 ERA and a 3-3 record. He has 53 strikeouts and has walked just 14.
>> Graham Brunner has a 4.35 ERA in 49.2 innings across 11 starts. He is 3-1 on the year with 51 strikeouts compared to 15 walks.
HEAD COACH BRAD HILL
>> Is in his 1st season coaching at his alma mater.
>> has a career record of 886-482-3 in 24 seasons as a head coach at the University of Central Missouri and Kansas State University. He has taken 13 teams to the NCAA Tournament, nine trips with the Mules and four with the Wildcats
>> spent the 2022 season as an assistant coach at Big Ten member Northwestern University
>> led Central Missouri to nine NCAA tournaments in nine seasons with seven Division II World Series appearances culminating with the 2003 National Championship
SERIES HISTORY
>> Tuesdays game will be the 232nd games in program history between Emporia State and Washburn with the Hornets leading the all-time series 153-77-1.
>> The first game between the two programs came on April 22, 1958 and was a 3-1 win for Washburn at a location unknown.
>> The Ichabods are 46-73-1 against Emporia State at Falley Field.
>> Washburn won the three-game series between the two team's earlier this season 2-1. In the series finale the Ichabods blasted a program record 10 home runs.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
SOUTHERN NAZARENE STORM
>> The Storm enter the series with a 12-33 record on the year and a 6-23 record inside the GAC after losing last weekend's series to Ouachita Baptist.
>> They went 15-35 overall a season ago, with a 6-27 record inside of the GAC, missing out on the conference tourmanet.
>> Southern Nazarene's offense is hitting .266 on the year with a .388 OB%, 407 SLG% and 38 home runs.
>> Jacob Martinez leads the Storm hitting .348 in 43 games played with 42 starts. He has a .988 OPS and five home runs along with a team-high 12 stolen bases.
>> Trey Orman is hitting .292 on the year in 29 starts with a team-high eight home runs and 40 RBI.
>> On the mound, Southern Nazarene's staff has a 9.75 ERA in 345.1 innings with 299 strikeouts and 246 walks issued.
>> Patrick Hine leads the Storm with 52.1 innings pitched in 12 starts. He has a 1-7 record with a 7.05 ERA and has struck out 42 batters.
>> Zack Robinson has a team-low 4.37 ERA in 22.2 innings across 14 appearances out of the bullpen. He is 2-2 on the year.
HEAD COACH GRANT LEDBETTER
>> begins his fifth season in 2024 at the helm of the baseball program as Head Coach of Southern Nazarene
>> He pitched for the Crimson Storm from 2005 through the 2008 seasons and graduated in 2007 with a bachelor's in sport management
>> got his first coaching gig as the head baseball coach at Northwest Classen High School in Oklahoma City. He coached the Knights from 2009-2011
SERIES HISTORY
>> The game on Wednesday will be the first in history between Washburn and Southern Nazarene.
MILESTONE MARKERS
>> Cale Savage is one home runs away from 30 in his career, he is currently 4th in program history in home runs hit, 10th in walks and 13th in RBI.
>> Cal Watkins is fifth in program history in doubles with 42 and is tied for 12th in program history in total hits with 178.
>> Payton McHarg is tied for 4th in program history for the most home runs in a season and 5th in single season slugging percentage.
>> Charlie Kiefer is tied for 5th in program history with 7 career saves, he is 7th in program history with 19 games finished.
WASHBURN BASEBALL HISTORY
>> The 2024 season will be the 72nd year of Washburn Baseball.
>> The Ichabods have gone 1351-1286-3 in that time.
>> There has been 33 seasons with 20+ wins; 23 seasons with 25+ wins; and 12 seasons with 30+ wins.
>> Washburn has earned 25 All-Region selections and nine All-America awards.
ON DECK
>> Washburn will play its final series of the regular season on the road against Northeastern State beginning on Friday.
>> The MIAA Tournament first round will begin on campus sites on Friday, May 3 and run until May 5 if needed.
