TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn came up just short of a conference-opening sweep, falling to Central Oklahoma 9-8 in the final game of the series. The Ichabods return to play on Wednesday, Feb. 26 facing Winona State at 2 p.m. at Falley Field.
The Bronchos (10-4, 1-2 MIAA) led off the game with a single and two batters later plated the first run of the game with a double into deep center. A two-run home run by the next batter made it 3-0. Washburn (5-6, 2-1 MIAA) got one back in the bottom of the inning beginning with a two-out double from Hayden Priest. Cash Jay followed with a single into right field to score him.
Percen McElyea settled in on the mound, tossing scoreless innings in the second and third. The score stayed at 3-1 until the Bronchos lifted a two-out solo home run in the top of the fourth. Keegan McDonald came on to pitch and struck out the final batter of the inning.
Easton Bruce singled to lead off the home half of the inning. Jackson Mervosh drove him home two batters later with a double off the wall in center field. With two outs Connor Scott did the same, driving a ball to the wall in left center for two bags, scoring Mervosh and cutting the lead down to one.
Washburn tied the game in the fifth inning with Hayden Priest hitting his fifth home run of the season to left center, a solo shot. McDonald stayed on for the fifth and sixth, tossing scoreless frames in both allowing just one hit.
In the seventh Central Oklahoma loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a hit batter. A wild pitch scored one run and another walk loaded the bases. The walk was followed by a grand slam home run to left field, making it a 9-4 game.
The score stayed that way after Ethan Alexander worked around a leadoff triple in the top of the eighth inning. Jay and Bruce each walked with one out in the bottom of the inning. Darian Duhon followed with a single through the left side, scoring Jay. Jackson Mervosh followed with his first home run of the season over the wall in left field to make it a one-run game once again.
Blake Priest came on to pitch the top of the ninth and tossed a scoreless frame, striking out two. The Ichabods were unable to put together a rally in the bottom of the ninth as the Bronchos held on for a 9-8 win.
Central Oklahoma picked up 11 hits in the game while Washburn finished with nine. Neither staff allowed many free passes, with the visitors walking four times and the Ichabods three.
The pitching staff for Washburn combined for 10 strikeouts, led by four from Keegan McDonald who threw 1.2 scoreless innings.
At the plate Hayden Priest and Jackson Mervosh each picked up two hits in the game, with one being a home run.
Orlando Gonzales drove in four RBI to lead Central Oklahoma, all coming on the grand slam.
