TOPEKA, Kan. -- On day one of the double elimination MIAA Championship Tournament Washburn will face No. 2 Central Missouri at 1 p.m. in Pittsburg, Kan.
LEADING OFF
>> Washburn baseball returns to the MIAA Championship as the No. 5 seed in the conference. They will face the No. 1 seed and No. 2 nationally ranked Central Missouri on May 9 at 1 p.m. in Pittsburg, Kan.
>> Last time out the Ichabods won 9-7 No. 19 Central Oklahoma to win the second game in the MIAA Quarterfinals best-two-of-three game.
>> Washburn is now 31-19 overall on the year and 21-12 inside the MIAA. They are 15-7 at Falley Field, 15-12 on the road and 1-0 in neutral field games.
>> The No. 2 nationally ranked Mules are 45-6 on the year after sweeping Fort Hays State in the first round of the MIAA Tournament.
>> 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.
>> If Washburn wins Thursday they will face the winner of the game between Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 10. If they lose they will face the other loser at 3 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 50 games Washburn is scoring 9.50 runs per game while allowing 7.32.
>> The Ichabods are 15-7 at Falley Field, 15-12 in road contests and 1-0 in neutral field games.
>> At the plate the Ichabods are hitting .328 with a .426 OB% and are slugging .574 as a team. They have 95 home runs and have drawn 251 walks.
>> Washburn's pitching staff has an ERA of 7.03 this season in 428.2 IP. They have struck out 362 batters while allowing 466 hits and issuing 273 walks.
>> The Ichabods have a .969 fielding percentage with 56 errors on the year and have turned 40 double plays.
>> On the basepaths Washburn has stolen 54 bases on 70 attempts while opponents have 58 stolen bases and have been thrown out 15 times.
>> The Ichabod hitters have collected 1,025 total bases while opponents are at 824 this year.
>> Washburn is starting and finishing games strong, outscoring opponents 56-33 in the first inning and 34-28 in the ninth. In extras they also have a 4-2 run edge. In the fourth inning the Ichabods are outscoring opponents 75-35.
STACKING THE STATS
>> The Ichabods are third in the nation in home runs per game with an average of 1.90 balls leaving the yard each game on the year.
>> In overall long balls the Ichabods are third in the nation with 95 blasts.
>> The Ichabods are 9th in the nation and second in the conference in doubles with 124 hits going for two bases on the year.
>> Washburn is 10th in the nation in hits on the year with 586 total knocks, second most in the conference.
>> The Ichabods are 7th in the nation and second in the conference with a .574 SLG% on the year.
>> Scoring 9.5 runs per game WU is 11th in the nation and second in the MIAA in that department.
>> With a batting average of .328 as a team Washburn is 24th in the nation and second in the MIAA at racking up hits.
>> Washburn is fifth in the MIAA and 28th in the nation turning 40 double plays on the year.
>> The Ichabod fielders are 54th 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 50 games for the Ichabods hitting a team-high .369 with a 1.263 OPS while hitting a team-high 21 home runs and 66 RBI. He has scored 65 runs and has 72 total hits. He is 2nd in the nation in home runs, 23rd in slugging, and 20th in RBI with top-five conference marks in all three.
>> Cash Jay is second on the team hitting .365 in 48 games played with 47 starts. He has the second highest OPS at 1.153 with a team-high 21 doubles. He is second on the team with 15 home runs while driving in 58 on 72 total hits. He is 11th in the nation in doubles, 37th in home runs and ranks in the top-10 in the conference in both categories.
>> Connor Scott is batting .359 on the year in 48 games played with 45 starts. He has a 1.018 OPS and a team-high 16 stolen bases to pair with six home runs and three triples to drive in 32 runs. He is third in the conference in sacrifice bunts, 7th in triples and 10th in stolen bases.
>> Cale Savage has the third highest OPS on the squad at 1.062 with 63 hits and 13 home runs while starting in all 50 games this season. He leads the team drawing 44 walks on the year for a .449 OB%. He is 13th in the nation and 4th in the MIAA in walks and is 10th in the conference in home runs.
>> Hayden Priest has started in 47 of the 48 games he has appeared in and is hitting .359 on the year with a .992 OPS. He has 65 hits driving in 56 runs and has only struck out 28 times in 181 at bats. He is 8th in the MIAA in RBI.
>> Jett Buck is slashing .326 on the year with 46 appearances and 45 starts this season. He has 59 hits, 12 doubles, a triple. His 14 home runs are third on the team and he is second with eight stolen bases. He is tied for 6th in the MIAA in home runs and is 17th in SLG%.
>> Cal Watkins has played in 43 games and made 39 starts hitting .262 with 25 RBI, 13 doubles and four home runs.
>> Blake Scott has made 21 starts and played in 34 games this season hitting .366 with a 1.118 OPS. He has a team-high .541 OB% with three home runs and 14 RBI.
>> Grant Jones hast played in 37 games and made 34 starts. He is hitting .303 on the year with a .470 OB% and 20 RBI.
>> Trevor McCollum has played in 36 games making 23 starts while hitting .268 with a .413 OB% and a pair of triples.
ON THE MOUND
>> Seventeen players have taken the mound this season for Washburn.
>> Cooper Carlgren leads the Ichabods with 68.1 innings across 14 starts this season. He has a 6.32 ERA and a 5-3 record along with a team-high 63 strikeouts. Hitters have a .261 batting average against him. He is 8th in the MIAA in strikeouts.
>> Caden Bressler has thrown 49.1 innings in 14 outings this season, with eight starts and six bullpen calls. He has a 5.66 ERA, lowest among starting pitchers, a 3-3 record and 27 strikeouts with 47 hits allowed. He is tied for the team lead with two saves.
>> Griffin Huiatt is third on the Ichabods throwing 54.1 innings this season in 16 appearances with seven starts for a 6.13 ERA. He has a 2-3 record, is second on the team with 55 strikeouts and is tied for a team-high with two saves.
>> Chase Torkelson is second on the team throwing 64.1 innings across 14 starts this season with a 5-0 record for the most wins on the squad. He has a 6.99 ERA, has struck out 50 batters and walked 41 hitters.
>> Charlie Kiefer is 4-2 this season throwing in 18 games total with three starts. He has a 5.56 ERA in 34.0 innings of work. He has struck out 20 batters with one save.
>> Fidel Hatch has thrown in 17 games this season making one start with a 7.03 ERA. In 32.0 innings. He has struck out 25 and has picked up two saves, tied for a team-high.
>> Sam Wragge is 2-0 on the year with a team-low 3.27 ERA across 11.0 innings in 12 appearances.
>> Cole Warner has thrown 16.1 innings in 16 appearances out of the bullpen with a 6.61 ERA and a 1-0 record. He has struck out 14 on the year.
>> Jayden Payne has thrown 14.0 innings across 17 appearances out of the bullpen. He has a 8.36 ERA with a 1-0 record and has struck out 12 batters.
IN THE FIELD
>> Jett Buck leads the team with 102 assists, Cal Watkins is second with 99 and Cash Jay rounds out the infield with 97.
>> Excluding first basemen and catchers, Connor Scott leads the team with 120 putouts, Payton McHarg has 83.
>> Hayden Priest has thrown out nine 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 255-215 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
CENTRAL MISSOURI MULES
>> The Mules are 45-6 on the year after going 29-4 in the MIAA to win the regular season championship and defeating Fort Hays State in both games of the first round.
>> They are ranked No. 2 in the latest NCBWA DII Rankings.
>> They have gone 1-2 in neutral field games this season.
>> A season ago they went 43-15 overall with a 27-6 record inside of the MIAA, winning the MIAA Championship Tournament and advancing to the NCAA Central Regional.
>> Central Missouri's offense is hitting .357 on the year with a .454 OB%, .661 SLG% and 113 home runs. They lead in the nation in both home runs and SLG%. They are 4th in the nation with 167 stolen bases as well.
>> Brennen van Breusegen is hitting .391 on the year in 50 games with 18 home runs and 56 RBI. He has a .483 OB% for a 1.293 OPS along with 16 stolen bases.
>> Max Holy led the Mules with 67 RBI this season while hitting .379 wit a 1.208 OPS. He has 14 home runs along with a team-high 28 stolen bases on 29 attempts.
>> Chase Heath hit .389 this season in 43 games with a team-high 1.312 OPS. He has 13 home runs with 48 RBI while only striking out 12 times all season.
>> On the mound, Central Missouri's staff has a 5.26 ERA in 429.1 innings with 390 strikeouts and 184 walks issued.
>> Connor Wolf leads the Mules with 78.0 innings pitched and has a team-low 3.58 ERA among starters in 13 starts going 11-0. He has 75 strikouts while allowing just 14 walks and 60 hits. Opponents are hitting .211 against him on the year.
>> Jack Scott has a 3.37 ERA in 34.2 innings across 15 appearances and three starts. He is 4-0 on the year with 29 strikeouts and just nine extra base hits allowed.
>> Jake Wilson has made 16 appearances with 11 starts for 51.1 innings pitched. He is 5-0 on the year with a 4.01 ERA. He has struck out 42 batters and issued just 15 walks.
HEAD COACH KYLE CROOKES
>> Is in his 10th season as the head coach of Central Missouri
>> has compiled a 346-123 overall record in nine seasons, including a 224-66 mark in MIAA play. He has led the Mules to five MIAA Regular Season and six MIAA Tournament championships
>> Prior to coming to Warrensburg, Crookes spent the previous eight seasons as the head coach at Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kan.
>> played collegiately, first at San Jose Junior College, and then at Centenary where he earned his bachelor's degree in history in 1999
SERIES HISTORY
>> Thursday will be the 121st game all-time between Washburn and Central Missouri with the Mules leading the series 92-28.
>> The first game between the two programs came on March 14, 1985 and was an 8-7 win for Washburn in Topeka.
>> Earlier this season Central Missouri won the season series with Washburn two games to one in Topeka.
MILESTONE MARKERS
>> Cale Savage is currently 4th in program history in home runs hit, 7th in walks and is 11th in RBI.
>> Cal Watkins is fourth in program history in doubles with 44 and is 12th in the record books with 182 total hits.
>> Payton McHarg is 3rd in program history for the most home runs in a season, 4th in runs batted in and 5th in slugging percentage.
>> Charlie Kiefer is tied for 5th in program history with 7 career saves, he is 8th in program history with 52 total appearances.
WASHBURN BASEBALL HISTORY
>> The 2024 season will be the 72nd year of Washburn Baseball.
>> The Ichabods have gone 1358-1286-3 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
>> If Washburn wins Thursday over Central Missouri they will face the winner of Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State at 11 a.m. on May 10. If they lose they will face the loser of the contest at 3 p.m. on May 10.
