TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Washburn Ichabod softball team moved to 10-2 on the season with two shutouts topping No. 24-ranked Oklahoma Baptist 2-0 before blanking East Central 8-0 in six innings on the first of three days at the Cherokee Classic. Washburn returns to action with two more games on Saturday with Harding at 1:30 p.m. and Southwestern Oklahoma State at 4 p.m.
Game 1 – WU 2, #24 OBU 0
Washburn combined shutdown pitching, clean defense and one key extra-base hit to earn a 2–0 win over No. 24-ranked Oklahoma Baptist University on Friday in their opening game of the weekend.
The matchup developed into a pitcher's duel early, with both teams trading quick innings through the first three frames. Washburn put a runner on in both the first and second but could not advance them past second, while Oklahoma Baptist managed just two early singles as
Sadie Walker settled into rhythm in the circle. Walker struck out four of the first nine batters she faced.
The breakthrough came in the fourth.
Dalaney Anderson sparked the inning with a leadoff walk, and with two outs,
Madi Moore lined a single extending the inning. With runners at first and second,
Danielle Schlader jumped on a pitch recording a double into the gap, clearing the bases as Anderson and Moore raced home for the only runs of the game.
Oklahoma Baptist (10-2) mounted its best threat in the bottom half of the fourth when a leadoff double put a runner in scoring position. Walker induced a flyout that advanced the runner to third before striking out the next batter and finishing the inning with another routine out. From there, she retired nine of the final 11 hitters she faced, allowing just one baserunner over the last three innings.
Walker completed the seven-inning shutout allowing only four hits with seven strikeouts and no walks, facing just 25 batter. Moore led the way going 2-for-3 with a run scored, Schlader finished 1-for-3 with the decisive 2-RBI double, and Sais and Brees each added a hit as Washburn totaled six on the day.
Game 2 – WU 8, ECU 0 (6 innings)
Washburn erupted for runs in four different innings and paired an 11-hit attack with a combined shutout in an 8-0 win over East Central on Friday afternoon, improving to 10-2 on the season.
Washburn wasted little time setting the tone.
Makenzie Sais opened the game with a single, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout before
Dalaney Anderson brought her home with an RBI groundout for a 1-0 lead.
The lead grew in the fourth when
Madi Moore doubled to start the inning and came around to score on an RBI double from
Erin Boles. After a productive out moved Boles to third,
Kate Ediger lifted a sacrifice fly to right to make it 3-0. Washburn broke the game open in the fifth with three more runs. Sais singled again and stole second before
Taylor Brees ripped an RBI double. Anderson followed with a double of her own to keep the rally going, and two more runs crossed on consecutive productive outs as the Ichabods stretched the margin to 6-0.
In the sixth, Ediger doubled and Sais singled to put two aboard, and Anderson delivered the decisive hit with a two-run single to center, capping a three-hit inning and pushing the advantage to eight. Sais finished the day 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three stolen bases. Anderson matched her with a 3-for-4 performance, driving in three runs and scoring once, while Brees, Boles, Moore and Ediger each contributed extra-base hits as part of the 11-hit output.
The offensive support was more than enough for the Washburn pitching staff.
Kierra Goos earned the win after throwing five scoreless innings, allowing four hits while striking out three.
Jenna Sprague closed the door with a clean final inning, striking out one as the Ichabods completed the shutout.
Washburn finished with 11 hits and left only five runners on base.
