WICHITA, Kan. -- Washburn scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning to take a 6-1 conference-opening win on the road over Newman on Friday afternoon. The Ichabods will take the field for game two of the series at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
The Jets (2-9, 0-1 MIAA) took an early lead in the game with a leadoff single coming around to score with two outs on a wild pitch. Caleb Lunnon settled in on the mound for Washburn (3-5, 1-0 MIAA) tossing two scoreless innings after that. In the top of the fourth Owen Laessig led off with a double, he was scored by a double from Levi Risenhoover to left field. With one out Chase Littrell slashed a single into left to score Risenhoover and put the Ichabods in front 2-1.
Newman tied the game up in the bottom of the fourth with a walk, wild pitch and single to make it 2-2. Washburn answered right back with a leadoff single by Jackson Mervosh followed by a double into right field from Easton Wasinger to score him and go in front. A walk and hit batter loaded the bases for Littrell who was patient to work a walk to plate another going up 4-2.
Lunnon continued to overpower the Jets, striking out the side in the sixth to end his day with a career-high ten punchouts. Gavin Wilhelm took over in the seventh for the Ichabods, a leadoff walk came around to score as the Jets cut the deficit to one. Newman did the same again in the eighth, tying the game at four.
In the top of the ninth Wasinger walked with one out. With two down Laessig reached on an error. Risenhoover made the Jets pay with a sacrifice fly that put Washburn in front. Another error in the field allowed another run to score to make it 8-6.
After entering to finish out the eighth inning Mark Hoffman stayed on in the ninth and retired Newman in order to close out the series-opening win.
The Ichabods out-hit the Jets 7-6 and used a 6-3 advantage in walks paired with four errors by Newman to earn the win. The pitching staff used three pitchers that combined for 12 strikeouts in the game. Caleb Lunnon allowed just four hits and two runs in his 6.0 innings while Mark Hoffman faced the minimum to earn his first win on the mound.
At the plate Jackson Mervosh and Easton Wasinger each had two hits and a walk. Levi Risenhoover and Chase Littrell each drove in a pair of runs.
