HAYS, Kan. -- Washburn jumped out to a quick start offensively and never looked back, winning 13-8 over Fort Hays State on Tuesday afternoon in Hays. The Ichabods exit conference play as they head to the Drury Invitational for four games beginning Friday.
Both sides traded scoring blow early, first with Washburn (5-6, 3-1 MIAA) going up 1-0 on a Brandt Beeby RBI groundout in the first scoring Ian Luce who led off with a double. The Tigers (4-10, 1-3 MIAA) came back with two runs on a pair of hits and an error in the bottom of the inning to go in front.
Owen Laessig laced a double in the second that tied the game, scoring Trenton Barry who was hit by a pitch. Brooks Richardson and Luce each followed with singles to score Laessig and go up 3-2. The game was evened with a two-out solo home run in the bottom of the inning by Fort Hays State.
In the fourth inning the Ichabods loaded the bases with singles by Laessig and Luce along with a walk by Chase Littrell. Jackson Mervosh was hit by a pitch, scoring one, and Beeby hit a sacrifice fly to add another. Easton Wasinger landed a single in center field to score two more and make it 7-3.
Luce continued the scoring for Washburn in the fifth, smashing a two-run homer to right, scoring Barry to go up 9-3. Fidel Hatch took over on the mound in the fourth inning throwing a pair of scoreless innings. In the top of the sixth Beeby led off with a double and was followed by a two-run homer by Levi Risenhoover. The bases were loaded up again and Luce deposited another run with a sacrifice fly to go up 12-3.
In the bottom of the seventh, Fort Hays State took advantage of an error in the field to score two runs. They would add two more in the eighth inning, this time coming on four hits to pull within five. In the visitors half of the ninth Beeby plated another run with a two-out double to add some insurance. The Tigers scored one in the bottom of the ninth as Washburn rolled to a 13-8 win.
The Ichabods led 13-10 in hits and 9-5 in walks, which helped to make up for three errors in the field while Fort Hays State played an error-free game.
Five pitchers appeared in the game combining for four strikeouts. Mark Hoffmann started and earned the win allowing one earned run over three innings. Fidel Hatch tossed three scoreless innings while allowing just two hits.
At the plate Ian Luce went 4-5 with a home run and a double with four RBI. Owen Laessig went 3-4 with an RBI and a walk while Brandt Beeby and Levi Risenhoover each had two hits and drove in multiple runs. Chase Littrell worked four walks as well.
