TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn built an early lead and used a strong pitching effort to win the series finale over Rogers State 7-3 on Monday afternoon. The Ichabods are back in action facing No. 2 Central Missouri at Falley Field with first pitch at 5 p.m.
After a scoreless top of the first inning from Caleb Lunnon the Washburn (18-19, 11-13 MIAA) offense gave him a lead right away. Jackson Mervosh led off with a walk before stealing second. With two outs Cash Jay shot a single through the left side of the infield to score him and go up 1-0.
Lunnon kept the Rogers State (21-12, 11-10 MIAA) bats quiet, in the fourth with the help of his catcher Hayden Priest, ending the inning with a strikeout and throwing out a runner at second base. In the bottom of the inning, Garrett Springer reached on a walk, moving to second and scoring on a single to left field by Blake Scott.
The next time up Priest led off with a double before coming around to score on a out-out single by Easton Bruce through the right side. The bases were loaded up on a pair of walks with two more scoring on a single by Payton McHarg to make it 5-0.
Lunning finished his outing with a scoreless sixth inning before Griffin Huiatt picked up where he left off, throwing a scoreless seventh. Easton Bruce added to the lead with a solo home run just inside the right field foul pole in the home half of the inning.
The Hillcats were able to get on the board in the eighth inning, beginning with a leadoff walk followed by a home run. A double put one more on, coming around to score on an error to cut the deficit down to 6-3.
In the home half of the inning Washburn took advantage of an error, with singles by Mervosh and Priest scoring a run to increase the cushion. After recording the final out of the eighth inning, Fidel Hatch remained in the game for the ninth, stranding two runners to finish the game and record a save.
With the hits late, the Hillcats out-hit the Ichabods 9-8, while Washburn was able to work six walks compared to just two free passes for the visitors.
Caleb Lunnon delivered the second straight quality start for the Ichabods, throwing 100 pitches over six innings, striking out five with no walks. Four total pitchers combined for nine strikeouts.
Easton Bruce and Hayden Priest each had multi-hit days, with Bruce driving in two and going yard. Payton McHarg also drove in a pair, going 1-2 at the plate.
