HOT SPRINGS, Ar. -- Washburn baseball began its season with a boom, blasting eight home runs and tying the program record for second most in a single game en route to a 17-7 win over Henderson State. The Ichabods will continue with day two of the Dugan Invitational on Saturday against Ouachita Baptist at 4 p.m.
Gavin Wilhelm got the ball for Washburn (1-0) and tossed a scoreless first inning for the Ichabods who were the visitors in the neutral site game. In the top of the second Easton Bruce got the scoring started for the game and season with a solo home run to lead off the frame. Connor Scott followed with one of his own to left center to make it 2-0 Washburn.
After another scoreless effort from Wilhelm, Jett Buck led off the third with another solo homer. Cash Jay followed with a single and two batters later Hayden Priest went yard over the left field wall to make it 5-0. The Reddies (0-1) were able to get on the board in the bottom of the inning with a two-run home run of their own.
A one-out walk by Jay and single by Darian Duhon put two on base for Priest to deliver his second ball over the wall in as many innings, pushing the lead up to six. With two outs Connor Scott doubled and was brought home on a single from Jackson Mervosh making it 9-2 after three and a half. Wilhelm finished his day after three innings and Henderson State was able to create some momentum in the fourth with three walks to begin the inning followed by a pair of singles. Caden Bressler came on with two on and two out and finished out the inning allowing just one more to score, making it 9-6 after four.
Washburn was able to get half of the runs back in the fourth, both scoring on a double by Bruce down the right field line to score Priest and Duhon. In the sixth inning the Ichabods added one more on a solo homer from Payton McHarg. Bressler worked the fifth and sixth without allowing a hit to push the game into the seventh.
After a single by Duhon with one out Priest delivered another ball over the wall, becoming the first player in the history of the Dugan Invitational with three home runs in a single game. For the second time in the game Washburn went back-to-back as Bruce blasted his second shot of the game to left field. Both Mervosh and McHarg delivered RBI hits with two outs to give the Ichabods an 11-run cushion. Bressler and Keegan McDonald combined to throw the bottom of the ninth allowing one run on a solo home run to end the season-opener after just seven innings with a 17-7 victory.
Neither team had an error in the game, Washburn slapped the ball around for 21 hits while the Reddies had seven. The Ichabod pitchers combined for five strikeouts and allowed five walks. Caden Bressler threw three innings without allowing a hit while Gavin Wilhelm moved to 1-0 on the year getting the win.
Hayden Priest tied the single-game program record with three home runs along with the single game mark of seven runs batted in. Easton Bruce went 4-5 at the plate with four RBI and a pair of blasts. Payton McHarg and Darian Duhon each had three-hit games as well.
For Henderson State, Luke Rice had one hit and drove in three to lead the offense.
