HOT SPRINGS, Ar. -- Washburn closed out its time at the Dugan Invitational with a 11-2 loss to Southern Arkansas on Monday afternoon. The Ichabods return to play at the South Florida Baseball Jamboree on Friday, Feb. 7 at 1 p.m. against Lynn.
Both teams switched dugouts from the day before with Washburn (1-3) beginning the game at the plate. Neither team got on the board in the first as Piercen McElyea struck out two to keep the Muleriders (3-1) off the board.
Leading off the top of the second Hayden Priest hit his fourth home run of the tournament over the left field wall to put Washburn up 1-0. In the bottom of the inning a hit batter and a home run put Southern Arkansas up 2-1. They would add one more in the third inning on a pair of walks and a two-out single.
The Muleriders added to the total in the fourth inning, scoring three on four hits to go up 6-1. In the fifth Easton Bruce led off with a double and Blake Scott walked to put two on. Connor Scott laid down a sacrifice bunt and Jackson Mervosh followed with a sac fly to score Bruce and get one run back. In the bottom half of the inning Southern Arkansas scored two with a walk and single followed by a double.
The lead grew for the Muleriders in the sixth starting with a pair of solo home runs to lead off the inning. They would add on another run to make it 11-2.
Washburn was unable to pick up a hit the rest of the way on offense. Kuyper Kendall and Keegan McDonald combined to throw the final 2.2 innings and keep Southern Arkansas off the board as the score remained the same for the final.
The Ichabods managed just five hits at the plate, with no player reaching base more than once. The Muleriders slashed 14 hits with five going for extra bases. Washburn pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts and five walks. Seven of the strikeouts went to Piercen McElyea who went 3-1 innings.
Josh Phillips had three hits and drove in five runs for Southern Arkansas.
At the conclusion of the tournament Easton Bruce, Darian Duhon, Hayden Priest and Caleb Lunnon were each named to the 2025 Dugan Invitational All-Tournament team.
2025 DUGAN INVITATIONAL ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM
OFFENSE
Drew Townsend (MSSU): 5-for-11 (.455), 2 2B, .636 SLUG, .600 OBP
Brayden Luikart (MSSU): 4-for-10 (.400), 7 RBI, 2B, 3B, HR, 1.000 SLUG.
Ethan Clark (MSSU): 7-for-13 (.538), 2 2B, 1 HR, 8 RBI, .923 SLUG, .600 OBP
Lee Matsuzaki (SAU): 7-for-15 (.467), 2 2B, 3B, HR, 3 RBI, 4 RUNS, .933 SLUG,
Jaden Woolbright (SAU): 5-for-12 (.417), 2B, RBI, 5 RUNS, .467 OBP
Darian Duhon (WU): 8-for-15 (.533), 3 Runs, 2 RBI, .588 OBP
Hayden Priest (WU): 7-for-17 (.412), 4 HR, 1 2B, 8 RBI, 5 RUNS, 1.176 SLUG
Easton Bruce (WU): 6-for-16 (.375), 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 RUNS, .875 SLUG
Octavio Mendevil (OBU): 5-for-10 (.500) 1 RBI, .545 OBP
Cal Jones (HSU): 6-for-11 (.545), 4 runs, 2B, .643 OBP
PITCHING
Joshua Flaugher (SAU): 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 4 Ks (win vs Washburn)
Jeremy Adorno (SAU): 6.0 IP, 0 runs, 2 hits, 7 Ks. OPBA .105 (win vs UAFS)
Caleb Lunnon (WU): 7.0 IP, 4 hits 1 ER, 6 Ks, 0 BB, OPBA .182. vs. SAU (no decision)
