SHAWNEE, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabod softball team used a big third inning and a steady performance in the circle to top Augustana softball 4-1 on Thursday afternoon at Shawnee, Kan., improving to 18-3 on the season. Washburn will continue the Midwest College Classic on Friday with two more games, followed by two more on Saturday.

The Vikings struck first in the bottom of the first, taking advantage of a Washburn error to plate an unearned run and grab a 1-0 lead.

The Ichabods answered in the second. After Madi Moore was hit by a pitch and replaced by pinch runner Ashlyn Gaughan, the junior came around to score when Kate Ediger advanced to second on a wild pitch, knotting the score at 1-1.

Washburn then broke the game open in the third. Makenzie Sais singled and Taylor Brees worked a walk to set the table for Dalaney Anderson. Anderson delivered the decisive swing of the afternoon, launching a three-run home run to center to score Sais and Brees and give the Ichabods a 4-1 advantage. Anderson finished 1-for-4 with 3 RBI as her team-leading blast proved to be the difference.

Aspen Burgardt added a strong day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a walk, while Ediger and Moore each collected a hit. Sais reached base twice with a single and a walk and scored once, and Brees drew two walks and crossed the plate on the go-ahead homer.

In the circle, Sadie Walker improved to 9-1 going the distance, scattering four hits over seven innings while allowing just one unearned run. She walked three and struck out three, inducing 10 ground-ball outs and stranding runners in scoring position in the sixth and seventh innings to secure her ninth win of the season.

For the game, Washburn tallied four runs, six hits and two errors, while Augustana finished with one run, four hits and one error.