TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn fell into an early hole and could not dig out Friday evening, falling 17-5 in five innings to Missouri Western in the series opener. The Ichabods will play game two on Saturday beginning at 2 p.m.
The Griffons (4-19, 3-11 MIAA) led off the game with three runs in the top of the first on a three-run home run after a walk and a single began the game. In the second, a pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases for Missouri Western. A fielders choice accompanied by an error allowed two runs to score, two batters later a bases-loaded walk added another. The six-run inning was capped off by a double into right field, clearing the bases to go up 9-0.
Jett Buck put Washburn (13-13, 6-8 MIAA) on the board in the bottom of the second with a solo home run to lead off the inning. The Griffons got the run right back with a one out double and walk, followed by a double steal. A single into left scored both to go up by 10. They added one more in the fourth on a two-out double into left center.
Kaden Gray took over on the mound in the fifth for the Ichabods and threw a scoreless inning. In the bottom of the frame Jackson Mervosh doubled and was scored on a single by Hayden Priest. Two straight walks loaded the bases for Easton Bruce who scored two more with a single into left.
In the sixth inning an RBI groundout by Payton McHarg plated Blake Scott, who was hit by a pitch to begin the inning, cutting the lead to 12-5. In the seventh the Griffons took advantage of a pair of errors in the field along with three walks and a pair of hit batters, scoring five on one hit. Washburn was unable to bring around anyone as the game came to a close 17-5 after seven.
The Ichabods were outhit 12-5 in the game while the Griffons worked nine walks to seven free passes for Washburn. Ten pitchers took the mound in the game for the Ichabods, combining for five strikeouts.
No player had more than one hit for Washburn, Easton Bruce led with two RBI. Easton O'Keefe went 4-5 with two RBI for the Griffons while Anthony Taggart drove in six.
