SHAWNEE, Kan. - The Washburn Ichabod softball team split its Friday action at the Midwest College Classic falling 8-4 in the opener to Minnesota Duluth before rebounding in the nightcap topping Bemidji State 9-3. The Ichabods will return to action with two more games on Saturday facing Southwest Baptist at 10 am and Minnesota State at 12:15 pm.

Game 1 - UMD 8, WU 4
Washburn softball put together a late charge but couldn't overcome an early deficit, falling 8-4 to Minnesota Duluth on Friday morning.

UMD (10-4) struck for two unearned runs in the first and added another in the second to build a quick 3-0 lead. The Bulldogs extended the advantage to 6-0 in the fourth, highlighted by an RBI double from Evans and a two-run single by Jenkins.

Washburn answered in the bottom half of the inning when Aspen Burgardt drew a walk before Ashlyn Gaughan came on to pinch run. Gaughan scored alongside Burgardt when Kate Dolan delivered a two-run single to cut the deficit to 6-2.

Minnesota Duluth added two more runs in the sixth to push the lead back to 8-2, but Washburn mounted a strong final inning. Makenzie Sais and Taylor Brees opened the seventh with singles, setting up sacrifice flies from Madi Moore and Kate Ediger to bring the score to 8-4.
The Ichabods loaded the bases, but a deep flyout ended the rally.

Pitcher Sadie Walker (9-2) worked 5.1 innings before Jenna Sprague closed out the final 1.2 frames without allowing an earned run.
Sais had two hits to lead the Ichabod eight-hit attack.
 
Game 2 - WU 9, BSU 3
In the second game the Ichabods  pounded out 15 hits and used a five-run fifth inning to pull away for a 9-3 win over Bemidji State.

Washburn (19-4) struck first in the second inning when Sais delivered an RBI single through the left side to score Gaughan, who had pinch run for Taylor Moss and stolen second to move into scoring position.

The Ichabods added to the lead in the third as Dalaney Anderson blasted her team-leading seventh home run of the season to right-center, her second hit of the day, pushing the advantage to 2-0.

The Beavers (3-9) answered in the fourth, capitalizing on five hits and a Washburn error to plate three runs and briefly take a 3-2 lead. Jillian Johnson's RBI single and a two-run single from Alayna DeGraef highlighted the Beavers' rally, though two of the runs were unearned.

Washburn responded emphatically in the fifth. Aspen Burgardt opened the frame with a solo home run to right field to tie the game at 3-3. Later in the inning, Brees ripped a two-run single to left-center to score Kate Dolan and Taybor Moss, giving the Ichabods the lead for good at 5-3. After an error allowed another run to score, Moore capped the outburst with an RBI single to right, as Washburn sent 10 batters to the plate and scored five runs on six hits for a 7-3 cushion.

The Ichabods tacked on two more in the sixth. Dolan doubled down the left-field line and came home on a triple to right by Erin Boles. Sais later reached on an error that allowed Boles to score, extending the lead to 9-3.

At the plate, Moore led the way, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a walk. Sais finished 3-for-5 with an RBI and two stolen bases, while Brees drove in two runs and collected two hits. Anderson added two hits, including her home run, and Burgardt's solo shot sparked the decisive rally. Dolan also scored twice as part of Washburn's balanced attack.

In the circle, Kierra Cook worked the first 3.2 innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on seven hits. Jalin Lavers (2-0) earned the win in relief, tossing 3.1 shutout innings and giving up just three hits while striking out two to close the door.

Washburn finished with nine runs on 15 hits and one error, while Bemidji State totaled three runs on 10 hits and committed two errors.