TAHLEQUAH, Okla. -- A six-run third inning pushed Washburn in front Saturday afternoon as they defeated Northeastern State 21-10 to even the series at one each. The Ichabods and RiverHawks will play the rubber match at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
After a pair of one-out walks in the first Easton Bruce plated the first run of the game with a single. Jett Buck did the same, scoring another to put Washburn (13-10, 6-5 MIAA) up 2-0 after one. A single from Blake Scott led off the second with a single and moved to third with a stolen base and wild pitch. He scored on a passed ball strikeout. Connor Scott stole second base, advanced to third and scored on a sac fly from Priest to go up 4-0.
Three straight singles led off the bottom of the second for the RiverHawks (9-11, 6-5 MIAA). The third scored one, an error plated another and the game was tied up with a two-RBI double. A sacrifice fly put Northeastern State in front after two.
Bruce led off the third with a single and Buck followed with a double. Darian Duhon was hit to load the bases. Jackson Mervosh scored two on a single to center and Blake Scott was hit to load the bases. Connor Scott knocked in one with a sac fly and Priest cleared the rest with a three-run homer to right field, boosting the Washburn lead to 10-5.
The RiverHawks were able to string together a few hits, scoring one in the third and two more in the fourth, pulling within two. Cal Leonard took over on the mound in the middle of the fourth and recorded the final three outs. In the visitors half of the fifth two walks began the inning. An error allowed a third to reach and a run to score. Priest drove in another with a single into right center and Cash Jay one more with a sac fly.
A two-out two-RBI single put Northeastern State in double digits at 13-10 in the home half. Buck led off the sixth with a home run to right. Duhon walked and Mervosh singled to put two on. Both scored on a double from Payton McHarg to right field. Priest plated yet another with an RBI groundout.
Logan Bartlett took over on the mound and threw scoreless sixth and seventh innings. With two outs in the eighth inning Connor Scott singled. McHarg walked to load the bases and Priest followed with another walk, scoring a run. Jay doubled down the left field line to add two more runs. A bases loaded walk from Duhon completed the scoring in the game, putting the Ichabods in front 21-10. Bartlett finished the game out with a scoreless eighth, stranding two.
Washburn out-hit the RiverHawks 13-10 in the game while also walking nine times compared to five free passes for Northeastern State. Three pitchers for the Ichabods combined for eight strikeouts led by five from Logan Bartlett who earned the save in the win. Cal Leonard earned the win throwing two innings, moving to 2-0.
At the plate Hayden Priest led going 2-3 with a home run and seven RBI, tying a program record. Jett Buck had three hits with one long ball and drove in a pair. Connor Scott, Jackson Mervosh and Payton McHarg each also had two RBI.
