TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn fell down early but bashed seven home runs on its way to a 14-6 series-opening win over No. 12 Missouri Southern on Friday afternoon. The Ichabods will look the take the series in game two on Saturday at 1 p.m.
A pair of doubles opened up the scoring in the top of the first for the Lions (10-3, 3-1 MIAA). They added another run with a one-out single to go up 2-0 after the top of the first. The score stayed that way until the top of the third with Missouri Southern scoring one on a two-out single.
Washburn (7-6, 3-1 MIAA) responded in the home half of the inning led off by a Blake Scott single. Connor Scott followed with a two-run shot over the wall. Darian Duhon reached base with a single and scored on a double that painted the left field line by Easton Bruce. Jett Buck followed with the second homer of the inning, to dead center, putting the Ichabods up 5-3. Payton McHarg walked for a second time and was brought home on a round-tripper by Jackson Mervosh to complete the seven-run inning.
The Lions got one run back in the next trip to the plate on a pair of hits in the top of the fourth. After a scoreless top of the fifth from Huiatt, Washburn added a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning with solo shots from both Jay and Buck.
Missouri Southern added one once more in the sixth with a solo home run to lead off the inning. Fidel Hatch entered from the bullpen to record the final two outs. Hayden Priest led off the bottom of the inning with a single and in a second straight at-bat Jay sent one over the wall for a two-run shot.
Washburn put two more on base with a single from Bruce and walk by McHarg. Blake Scott added to the home-run total with a three-run shot just inside the right-field foul poll to make it 14-5 after six full.
The score stayed that way after a scoreless seventh inning from Hatch on the mound. In the top of the eighth, a single followed by two walks loaded the bases. An RBI groundout scored one for the Lions but that is all they would get as Logan Bartlett got the final two outs of the inning.
Ethan Alexander took over on the mound and faced just four to retire Missouri Southern for the inning and the game, securing the 14-6 win.
The Ichabods finished with 11 hits in the contest, while the Lions had nine base knocks. Washburn also worked nine walks, while Missouri Southern earned just four.
The pitching staff of the Ichabods combined for four strikeouts, led by two from Griffin Huiatt in 5.1 innings of work to earn the win. At the plate seven of the 11 hits for Washburn went for four bags. Cash Jay and Jett Buck each went yard twice while Jackson Mervosh, Blake Scott and Connor Scott each belted one.
Also at the dish Payton McHarg went to the plate five times and walked to first all five, setting a new program record with five free passes in a single game.
