TOPEKA, Kan. – The Washburn Ichabod softball team opened its home slate splitting a pair of games topping Montana State-Billings 15-0 in five innings before falling 5-0 to Wayne State in the nightcap on day one of the Ichabod Invitational. The Ichabods will continue the weekend-long event hosting Minnesota State at 2 p.m. and Drury following on Saturday back at Gahnstrom Field.
Game 1 - WU 15, MSU-Billings 0 (5 innings)
The Washburn Ichabods erupted for a season-high 17 hits and backed it up with dominant pitching in a 15-0 run-rule victory over the Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets in their home opener at Gahnstrom Field.
Washburn jumped on the Yellowjackets in the first inning as
Makenzie Sais reached to open the game, stole second and then scored on an RBI single by
Taylor Brees for a 1-0 lead.
The Ichabods broke things open in the second.
Kate Ediger led off with a solo home run to right center,
Maddie McGee stole home during a double steal when Sais swiped second and Brees delivered another RBI single and
Dalaney Anderson added a run-scoring groundout as Washburn plated four runs to stretch the advantage to 5-0.
The third inning turned into another explosion as the Ichabods scored five more runs on six hits. Ediger doubled to spark the rally and McGee followed with an RBI single. Brees added yet another run-scoring hit before Anderson ripped a two-run double down the right-field line.
Aspen Burgardt capped the frame with an RBI double to left center, pushing the lead to 10-0.
Washburn added four more in the fourth. A run scored on a wild pitch before Anderson delivered again with a two-run double up the middle. Burgardt followed with an RBI groundout as the Ichabods reached the 15-run mark. In the fourth, Sais swiped her 34
th stolen base of the season setting an Ichabod single-season record snapping Torrie Beauchamp's mark from 1999 in which she stole 33.
Brees finished a perfect 4-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored to pace the offense. Anderson went 3-for-4 with a game-high 4 RBI, collecting a pair of doubles. Sais scored four runs and swiped four bases, Ediger went 2-for-2 with a home run and a double, and McGee added two hits, two runs and an RBI. Burgardt drove in two runs as Washburn totaled 15 runs on 17 hits with 12 RBI, two walks and no strikeouts in 30 at-bats.
In the circle,
Kierra Goos improved to 6-1 with three hitless innings, striking out four while working around five walks.
Jalin Lavers closed out the final two innings, allowing just one hit and striking out two as the duo combined on a one-hit shutout.
Game 2 - Wayne State (Neb.) 5, WU 0
The Ichabods were limited to just two hits as they fell 5-0 to the Wayne State Wildcats on Friday afternoon in Topeka in the final game of the first day.
Wayne State struck first in the second inning, capitalizing on a pair of Washburn errors. After loading the bases, a Wildcat single through the left side scoring an unearned run giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
Washburn threatened multiple times but could not break through against Wayne State starter Kennadi Borngrebe. The Ichabods drew eight walks in the game, including two each from Sais, Brees and Anderson, but stranded nine runners.
The Wildcats added separation in the sixth when Borngrebe helped her own cause with a two-run home run to left center, extending the lead to 3-0. Wayne State tacked on two more insurance runs in the seventh, accounting for the final margin.
Washburn's only hits came from Sais and Maddie Moore. Sais finished 1-for-2 with two walks and three stolen bases, giving her seven on the day, while Moore added a single.
In the circle,
Sadie Walker (7-1) took the loss, allowing four earned runs, scattering 10 hits over 6.2 innings with seven strikeouts and a walk.
Jenna Sprague recorded the final out in relief with a strikeout.
Wayne State totaled 10 hits in the contest, led by Borngrebe, who went 2-for-3 with a home run, 2 RBI, and a walk while earning the complete-game victory, striking out six over seven innings.
Washburn dropped to 14-3 on the season with the setback.
