TOPEKA, Kan. -- A five-run ninth inning for Fort Hays State downed Washburn on Tuesday afternoon falling 7-5 in the midweek contest. The Ichabods will stay at home hosting Missouri Western for three games beginning on Friday at 4 p.m.
The Tigers (17-5, 12-1 MIAA) led off the game with a walk and a single. They were moved around on a sacrifice bunt and groundout to score one in the top of the first. In the home half of the inning, Washburn (13-12, 6-7 MIAA) loaded the bases with singles from Jackson Mervosh and Cash Jay along with a walk by Payton McHarg. Easton Bruce scored Mervosh with an RBI fielders choice to even the game.
Caden Bressler settled in on the mound, stranding two in the second inning and retiring Fort Hays State in the third with an inning-ending double play.
With two outs in the fourth inning Blake Scott hit a single up the middle, Mervosh followed with a ground rule double over the left field wall. The next three batters were all hit by pitches, scoring two runs.
In the fifth inning, the Tigers got a single with two outs, advancing to second on a wild pitch. A dropped third strike moved him to third and extended the inning, allowing the runner to score on a single and make it 3-2.
Caden Bressler exited after one batter in the sixth inning and Logan Bartlett took over on the mound. He forced a double play and completed a scoreless inning. In the home half of the inning Mervosh continued going to left field, this time sneaking a ball over the wall for a solo shot to go up 4-2.
Kai Bennett entered in the seventh inning and recorded the final out with a strikeout. He stayed on in the eighth and continued to miss bats, striking out the side. Washburn got two runners on in the bottom of the inning but could not add to the lead.
A single and hit batter began the top of the ninth for the Tigers. Another hit batter loaded the bases before a two-out walk brought one home. An error in the field on a grounder scored two runs and put Fort Hays State in front. That was followed with a single into right, scoring to more, extending the lead to 7-4.
In the bottom of the ninth singles by Easton Bruce and Connor Scott put two on with two outs. Trevor McCollum came through with a pinch-hit single, scoring one but that is all the Ichabods would get as they fell 7-5.
Washburn out-hit the visitors 11-7, with each team recording one error. The Tigers worked six walks while the Ichabods managed two base on balls.
Four pitchers combined to strike out eight for Washburn led by six from Kai Bennett in 2.1 innings. Caden Bressler went five innings, allowing just one earned run. At the plate Jackson Mervosh went 3-5 and Blake Scott picked up two hits, reaching base three times.
