TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn baseball exits conference play for a week heading to the Drury Invitational for four games altered due to weekend weather beginning Friday, Feb. 27 in Springfield, Mo.
 

LEADING OFF

>> Washburn takes a break from MIAA play heading to the Drury Invitational for four games against GLVC competition beginning Friday.

>> The Ichabods take on Indianapolis on Friday, Feb. 27 at 12 p.m. before taking on Missouri S&T at 5 p.m. in the evening. They face the host Drury at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday before facing UIndy against on Sunday at 12 p.m. to wrap up the weekend.

>> Washburn improved to 5-6 on the year and 3-1 inside the MIAA after defeating Fort Hays State 13-8 on the road Tuesday.

>> The Ichabods are coming off a fourth straight winning season in 2025 going 28-25 overall and 18-18 inside the MIAA. They finished 7th in the regular season and won two games in the MIAA Tournament before falling in the semifinal round.

>> They were picked to finish fifth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll for a second straight year.

DRURY INVITATIONAL

>> All games the Drury Invitational will take place at Mark Worley Field at Meador Park in Springfield, Mo. 

>> Tickets are $5 for a daily pass. credit/debit and mobile transactions only. No cash will be accepted. 

>> Live stats can be found through the Washburn schedule page along with a live video stream that is run through the GLVC Network which must be purchased for access. 

BODS AND BITS

>> Washburn is scoring 7.82 runs per game on the year while opponents are scoring 7.18 runs per game. 

>> They are 1-2 playing at home at Steve Anson Stadium, 4-4 in road games and have not played in a neutral field game. 

>> At the plate the Ichabods are hitting .247 with a .408 OB% and a .382 SLG%. They have tallied seven home runs with 81 total walks.

>> The pitching staff has a 5.51 ERA with 90 strikeouts across 94.2 innings. They have allowed 106 hits and issued 48 walks. 

>> Washburn has a .957 fielding percentage as a team with 18 errors and four turned double plays.

>> On the basepaths the Ichabods have gone 24-33 in stolen base attempts while opponents have gone 13-17. 

>> Washburn has returned 19 players from the 2025 roster with eight of them as  seniors, four juniors and seven sophomore. 

STREAKS AND STATS

>> Brandt Beeby has the longest current hitting streak at five games entering the weekend. Jackson Mervosh had the longest of the season at six games.

>> Ian Luce has a team and season-high 11 game streak of reaching base. 

>> Luce has a team-high five multi-hit games, Easton Wasinger has four.

>> Washburn is reaching base at a .454 clip to lead off the inning. 

>> They are 5-17 hitting with the bases loaded.

>> Right-handed hitters are hitting just .256 against Ichabod pitching.

>> Washburn is outscoring opponents 13-5 in the ninth inning of games. 

AROUND THE ORDER

>> Ian Luce has started in all 11 games hitting .356 with a team-high 1.066 OPS. He has seven extra-base hits with nine RBI and is 4-6 in stolen base attempts. He is 18th in the MIAA in total bases.

>> Levi Risenhoover is hitting .244 while starting all 11 games. She leads the team with four home runs and 14 RBI leading to a 1.066 OPS. He is 3-5 in stolen base attempts. He is 4th in the MIAA and 42nd nationally in home runs while ranking 14th in the conference in RBI. 

>> Easton Wasinger has played in nine games making nine starts. He is third on the team with 10 hits and has a .303 batting average. He has driven in six runs and has a .439 OB%. 

>> Chase Littrell is hitting .276 while playing and starting in 10 games. He has a home run and nine RBI while working a team-high 14 walks for a .523 OB%. He is 4-5 in stolen base attempts. He is 6th in the MIAA and 22nd nationally in walks.

>> Brandt Beeby has played in seven games and made three starts. He is hitting .467 with a 1.167 OPS while driving in seven runs.

>> Owen Laessig has played and started in eight games and is hitting .290 with five RBI and a .343 OB%. 

>> Jackson Mervosh has started and played in all 11 games hitting .220 with four doubles and six RBI. He has a .439 OB%. 

>> Jarrett Herrmann has played in eight games making five starts. He is hitting .333 with six walks for a .500 OB%. He is 3-4 in stolen base attempts.

>> Trenton Barry has palyed in 10 games making eight starts. He has driven in five runs while scoring 11 and is hitting .154. He is 6-7 in stolen base attempts and ranks 9th in the MIAA in stolen bases. 

>> Brooks Richardson has played in nine games making eight starts. He is hitting .217 with an RBI and has a .379 OB%. 

>> Jack Borgmann has played in ten games making eight starts. He has two RBI and has worked eight walks. 

ON THE MOUND

>> Caleb Lunnon has made three starts for the Ichabods throwing a team-high 16.1 innings on the year. He has also struck out a team-high 19 batters with a 2.76 ERA for a 1-0 record. He has allowed just two walks and two extra base hits. he ranks 5th in the MIAA and 43rd nationally in strikeout-to-walk ratio and is 9th in the conference in total strikeouts.

>> Kai Bennett has thrown 14.0 innings over his three starts. He is second on the team with 15 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .226 batting average. He has a 3.86 ERA and is 0-1 on the year. He is 10th in the MIAA in strikeouts per nine innings.

>> Maclane Finley is second on the team throwing 16.0 innings across his three starts this season. He has struck out nine batters and has a 1-1 record with a 5.06 ERA. Opponents are hitting just .250 off of him.

>> Max Strash has appeared in three games out of the bullpen for the Ichabods throwing 5.0 innings. He has six strikeouts and has not allowed an earned run for a 0.00 ERA. 

>> Mark Hoffmann appeared in four games and made one start throwing 9.2 innings on the year. He is 2-0 with a 4.66 ERA with six strikeouts and has a .243 opponent batting average. 

>> Kuyper Kendall has pitched four games out of the bullpen with six strikeouts and has yet to allow an earned run.

>> Fidel Hatch has played in three games out of the bullpen for Washburn throwing 7.0 innings with a 2.57 ERA.

>> Carter Poole has made three appearances out of the bullpen throwing 2.0 innings. He has three strikeouts without allowing a run.  

>> Keegan McDonald has appeared in two games out of the bullpen throwing 2.0 innings with a strikeout and four earned runs. 

IN THE FIELD

>>  Excluding first basemen and catchers, Chase Littrell leads the team with 27 put outs in the field. Levi Risenhoover is second on the team with 26.

>> Trenton Barry has the most assists on the team with 28, while Jackson Mervosh is second with 21. 

>> Brooks Richardson has a team-high 56 put outs from behind the plate while Jack Borgmann has 53 at first base. 

ICHABODS AROUND THE COUNTRY

>> Washburn's 47-man roster consists of players from eight different states.

>> There are 21 players on the roster who are from the Sunflower State.

>> Nebraska and Missouri are producing the second most Ichabods with seven each coming from the two bordering states.

>> Washburn has five players from Oklahoma and four from Colorado moving one state to join the Ichabod roster. 

>> One player comes from each of Texas, Iowa and Wisconsin to round out the roster. 

MIAA PRESEASON POLL

>> In the 2026 MIAA Coaches Preseason Poll, the Ichabods were picked fifth, the same place they were picked to finish in the 2025 preseason poll as well. They earned 93 total points in the poll.

>> Central Missouri was picked to repeat as the regular season champion, earning 12 of 13 first-place votes with 144 total points.

>> Pittsburg State and Central Oklahoma are picked to finish second and third respectively. 

>> Missouri Southern was slotted at No. 4 and earned the final first-place nod. 

NUMBERS AROUND THE NATION

>> As a team in 2026 Washburn stacks up to the rest of the nation and conference well in several areas...

Walks  - 81 (4th MIAA / 27th nationally)

Doubes per game - 2.18 (5th MIAA / 52nd nationally) 

Stolen bases per game - 2.18 (4th MIAA / 59th nationally) 

Strikeout-to-walk ratio  - 1.88 (6th MIAA / 62nd nationally)

Walks allowed per nine innings - 4.56 (6th MIAA / 75th nationally)

ERA - 5.51 (6th MIAA / 93rd nationally)

Strikeouts per nine innings - 8.6 (4th MIAA / 93rd nationally)

Scoring - 7.8 runs per game (6th MIAA / 86th nationally) 

HEAD COACH HARLEY DOUGLAS

>> Former Washburn All-MIAA outfielder Harley Douglas enters his 12th season at the helm of the Washburn baseball program in 2025.

>> In his eleven plus season, Douglas carries an all-time record of 289-248 with seven appearances in the MIAA Tournament and led the program to its first-ever NCAA Tournament in 2022.

>> He has also coached a total of 72 all-MIAA selections, including the MIAA Player and Pitcher of the Year in 2016.

>> Prior to returning to his alma mater in 2012 he was the head coach at St. Marys HS from 2003-06 and at Rossville HS from 2007-10. 

>> Douglas is a two-time Washburn graduate, receiving his Exercise Physiology degree in 2002 before earning an Education degree in 2004. He also earned a Master's Degree in Adaptive Special Education from Emporia State in 2010. 

ASSISTANT COACHES

>> Connor Crimmins is in his eighth season with the Ichabods on the coaching staff.

>> He began his coaching career spending the prior two seasons on Brad Hill's Kansas State staff serving as a graduate assistant

>> While at Washburn, Crimmins played both football and baseball, finishing his career on the diamond top 10 in sacrifice flies (4th/11), doubles (6th/38) and RBI (t-7th/132), while having the 12th-most at-bats (575).

>> He graduated from Washburn in 2016 with his bachelor's and earned his master's in college student development and counseling from K-State.  

>> Rane Pfeifer is in his third season on the coaching staff after finishing his playing career with the Ichabods in 2023. 

>> He finished his career second all-time in opponent batting average (.218), third in games started (36), fourth in strikeouts (210) and 19th in innings pitched (165.2)

>> Pfeifer graduated from Washburn with a bachelor's degree in business management in May 2022

>> Caden Bressler moves from the starting rotation to the coaching staff for the 2026 season in his first as a coach.

>> He finished his three-year career with the Ichabods in 2025where he appeared in 62 games as a hitter and 32 on the mound. He throw 113.2 total innings with a 6-6 record and three saves.

>> Bressler graduated with his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from Washburn in 2025. 

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION

INDIANAPOLIS GREYHOUNDS

>> Indianapolis enters the weekend 4-7 on the year after splitting a four-game series with Davenport last time out. 

>> Last season the Greyhounds went 34-24 overall while going 20-11 inside the GLVC. They advanced to the NCAA DII Midwest Super Regional. 

>> Al Ready is in his 8th season leading the UIndy baseball program where he has a 204-148 career record. 

>> Indianapolis is scoring 5.36 runs per game while opponents are scoring 6.27 runs per game against them. 

>> The Greyhounds offense is hitting .252 as a team with a .377 OB% and a .423 SLG%. They have 11 home runs and have tallied 54 total walks with 99 strikeouts.

>> They rank 1st in the GLVC and 20th nationally in triples, and are 2nd in the conference in home runs. 

>> Austin Bode has started and played in 10 games hitting .333 with a 1.063 OPS. He has a team-high three home runs along with eight RBI, also tied for a team best. He leads the GLVC in home runs.

>> Garrett Rusch has played and started in all 11 games hitting .294 with a .984 OPS. He has a pair of home runs with eight RBI and is 4-5 in stolen base attempts.

>> The pitching staff has a 4.12 ERA as a team across 87.1 innings. They have struck out 68 batters while walking 43 and allowing 103 total hits.

>> They are 2nd in the GLVC in double plays turned and in ERA. 

>> Ayden Tran has appeared in three games making two starts. He has a team-best 2.03 ERA across 13.1 innings with nine strikeouts. He is 8th in the GLVC in ERA. 

>> Gavin Smith has made three starts for UIndy tossing 13.0 innings with a 2.77 ERA. He has a 1-0 record and has struck out six. 

>> Washburn leads the all-time series between the two teams 2-0. Both games have been neutral field meetings.

>> The first meeting of the series came on Feb. 25, 1995 with a 5-1 win for the Ichabods in Edmond, Okla.

MISSOURI S&T MINERS

>> Missouri S&T has won five games in a row to improve to 5-1 on the year after defeating Missouri-St. Louis 8-2 last time out on Wednesday.

>> Last season the Miners went 32-25 overall and 17-15 inside the GLVC. They won the GLVC Tournament and advanced into the Midwest Regional before falling.

>> On the year they are 4-1 when playing at home in Rolla, Mo., are 1-0 on the road and have not played a neutral field game.

>> Todd DeGraffenreid is in his 23rd season as the head coach at Missouri S&T where he has compiled a 506-561 career record.

>> Missouri S&T is scoring 8.33 runs per game while opponents are scoring just 3.83 runs per game.

>> The Miners offense is hitting .340 as a team with a .440 OB% and .463 SLG%. They have three home runs and 19 total walks on the year. 

>> Missouri S&T is first in the GLVC and 3rd in the nation with 4.6 stolen bases per game. They rank 3rd in the conference and 16th in the nation in batting average. 

>> Bricen Smith has played and started in all five games hitting an even .500 with 1.224 OPS. He has a home run and five RBI while adding three stolen bases. He is 2nd in the GLVC in batting average and 5th in OB%.

>> Drew Baugus has played in all five games making four starts and is hitting a team-high .563 with a 1.292 OPS. He has three RBI and has stolen five bases. He leads the GLVC and is 12 in the nation in batting average.

>> The pitching staff has a 2.63 ERA across 48.0 innings while striking out 47 batters and walking 26.

>> They rank 1st in the GLVC and 11th in the nation in ERA and also lead the conference in WHIP and strikeout-to-walk ratio.

>> Logan Slinkard has made two appearances with one start throwing 6.2 innings. He has a 1.35 ERA and 1-0 record while striking out six. He is fourth in the GLVC in WHIP and 5th in ERA. 

>> Jackson Yerkes has pitched in three games making one start for Missouri S&T. He has tossed 6.2 innings with three strikeouts for a 1-0 record and 1.35 ERA. 

>> Washburn leads the all-time series over Missouri S&T 20-7. They are 1-0 against the Miners in neutral field meetings. 

>> The first meeting came on March 12, 1993 with a 12-2 win for the Ichabods in Topeka. The last meeting came on March 7, 2009 with a 12-2 seven-inning win for Washburn.

DRURY PANTHERS

>> Drury is 5-2 on the year after losing a three-game series on the road against Central Oklahoma last time out.

>> They are receiving votes in the most recent NCBWA poll released on Feb. 25. 

>> Last season the Panthers went 33-23 overall and 21-11 inside the GLVC. They won two games in the GLVC Tournament before falling for the final time.

>> On the year they are 1-0 playing at home in Springfield, Mo., 4-2 on the road and have not played a neutral court game. 

>> Scott Nasby is in his 14th season as the head coach at Drury. He has a 372-278-1 career record. 

>> Drury is scoring 8.14 runs per game while opponents are netting 6.0 runs per game.

>> The Panthers offense is hitting .348 as a team with a .431 OB% and .447 SLG%. They have four home runs and 31 total walks while striking out 56 times.

>> Drury ranks 3rd in the GLVC in total hits while ranking 5th in the conference in batting average and 24th in the nation.

>> Connor Bain has started in all seven games and is hitting a team-high .467 with a 1.167 OPS. He has a pair of home runs and eight RBI, both leading the team. He is 2nd in the GLVC and 21st in the nation in hits per game.

>> Jackson Crider has also started all seven games this season hitting .448 with a 1.017 OPS. He has driven in eight runs and has a .500 OB%. He is 6th in the conference in hits per game. 

>> The pitching staff has a 4.83 ERA across 59.2 innings on the year. They have 49 strikeouts while allowing 65 hits and 29 walks.

>> They rank 3rd in the GLVC in WHIP and are 4th in ERA. 

>> Coleman Morrison has started in two games tossing 11.0 innings with 11 strikeouts. He has a team-best 0.82 ERA and is 1-0 on the year with a .094 opponent batting average. He leads the GLVC and is 9th in the nation in hits allowed per nine innings while also leading the conference in ERA.

>> Joey Funk has made three appearances out of the bullepn for Drury throwing a team-high 13.1 innings. He has struck out five with a 2.03 ERA and is 1-0 on the year.

>> Drury leads the all-time series between the two teams 11-6. They are 5-10 against the Ichabods in Springfield, Mo.

>> The first meeting came on Feb. 29, 2008 with a 6-3 14-inning win for Washburn on the road. The most recent meeting was a four-game series in 2017 that both teams split.

MILESTONE MARKERS

>> Griffin Huiatt is 3rd in program history with 57 career appearances. He ranks tied for 5th among all players with seven career saves. 

>> Jackson Mervosh is tied for 31st in Washburn history with 28 doubles. With a .335 batting average his career number ranks tied for 41st best in program history.

WASHBURN BASEBALL HISTORY

>> The 2026 season will be the 74th year of Washburn Baseball.

>> The Ichabods have a 1392-1319-3 record in program history. 

>> There have been 35 seasons with 20+ wins; 25 seasons with 25+ wins; and 13 seasons with 30+ wins.

>> Washburn has earned 34 All-Region selections and 14 All-America awards.

ON DECK

>> Washburn stays on the road next week taking on Northwestern Oklahoma State on Wednesday, March 4 in Alva, Okla.

>> Senior day for the Ichabods will be on the regular season finale May 2 against Pittsburg State at 1 p.m.

>> The single elimination MIAA Tournament will be held in Edmond, Okla. at Wendell Simmons Field between May 6-10.