BROKEN ARROW, Okla. -- Washburn slugged a grand slam in the second inning to take a 4-0 lead and didn't look back taking a relocated game one over Northeastern State 13-7. The Ichabods will play game two in the same spot on Saturday at 2 p.m.
In the top of the first inning Washburn (27-19, 19-12 MIAA) threatened but left two on base. Caden Bressler sat Northeastern State down in order in the bottom of the inning. In the second the bases were loaded up after a Blake Scott single, Jett Buck was hit by a pitch and Grant Jones worked a walk. With one out Payton McHarg broke the game open, homering to right field for his second grand slam of the season.
Washburn got another run across in the top of the third after back-to-back singles from Connor and Blake Scott. Buck was hit again to load the bases and Jones hit an RBI groundout to make it 5-0. The RIverHawks got on the board in the second with a single and three straight walks, followed by a hit batter to score two runs. An RBI groundout brought around another for a three-run inning.
The Ichabods made it three straight innings scoring with Connor Scott picking up an RBI pop out, scoring McHarg who led off with a walk. A double followed by an error evened the scoring in the inning for the RiverHawks in the home half of the inning.
With two outs in the fifth inning Cal Watkins walked to put two on. Next up McHarg took an 0-2 pitch over the wall for his second home run to make it 8-4. Fidel Hatch tossed a scoreless fifth inning to maintain the score. In the sixth inning Northeastern State was able to cut back into the deficit with a pair of solo home runs, making it an 8-6 game after six.
A hit batter and walk put two right back on base for Washburn in the seventh. Cale Savage reached on an error and Watkins was able to score. Cash Jay doubled to bring home one run and Hayden Priest did the same, trading place with Jay to cap off a three-run inning.
Same Wragge delivered a scoreless seventh inning and Gavin Wilhelm held the RiverHawks scoreless in the eighth to keep the score at 11-7 going to the ninth. Jay and Connor Scott were both hit by pitches to begin the ninth. Blake Scott walked, loading the bases with one out. Jett Buck singled up the middle to score two and add insurance.
Northeastern State scored one on a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth but never got any closer and Washburn was able to take game one of the series.
The Ichabods tallied 14 hits in the game with three each from Cash Jay and Payton McHarg, who drove in six runs with a pair of home runs. Six pitchers took the mound for Washburn, Fidel Hatch threw 3.1 innings, the most run of the group, striking out one with two earned runs allowed to earn the win.
