TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn opened up its home slate of games on Friday afternoon at the Steve Anson Classic with a 9-3 win over Sioux Falls. The Ichabods return to action against No. 23 MSU Denver on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 1 p.m.
Caleb Lunnon got the ball for Washburn (2-3) and was dominant early on, retiring the first nine 10 batters he faced in order. The game was still scoreless in the fourth inning when the Cougars (0-1) pieced together three singles to score one run and go in front 1-0.
The Ichabods answered in the bottom of the inning, taking advantage of a pair of errors to extend the inning and score one run. With two-outs and two-on Chase Littrell shot a single up the middle to score both and take a 3-1 lead.
Next time up to bat Ian Luce led off with a single and Levi Risenhoover walked. A hit batter loaded the bases and next a wild pitch scored two. Owen Laessig laced a single into center field to score Barry and make it a 6-1 game.
Lunnon continued to cruise, working into the seventh inning before exiting with one out in the seventh. Kuyper Kendall recorded the final two outs to finish the seventh. Sioux Falls was able to cut into the lead scoring two runs on a pair of hits and a walk in the eighth to make it a three-run game.
In the home half of the inning Brooks Richardson was hit by a pitch before scoring on a triple by Luce into right field. Jackson Mervosh slashed a double down the left field line, scoring Luce. Easton Wasinger kept the line moving shooting a single into right field to make it 9-3.
Blake Priest finished the game off on the mound, retiring the Cougars three up and three down to secure the win.
Washburn doubled the hit total of Sioux Falls, 12-6, with the visitors committing both errors in the game. On the mound used four pitchers that combined for nine strikeouts while walking just one batter. Caleb lunnon earned the win moving to 1-0 on the year going 6.1 innings allowing just four hits with six strikeouts.
At the plate the Ichabods walked three times and were led in hits by Ian Luce who went 3-5 with a double, triple and one RBI. Easton Wasinger, Chase Littrell and Owen Laessig each had a multi-hit day, with Littrell driving in two.
