TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn held an early lead and rallied from a late deficit but came up just short returning home for the first time in 12 games falling 7-6 to No. 5 Central Missouri. They are back on the road facing Missouri Southern for three games beginning Friday, March 13 at 3 p.m.
Braden Cork worked a pair of scoreless innings to begin the game on the mound for Washburn (8-12, 5-3 MIAA). In the second inning Levi Risenhoover shot a one-out single into the outfield. Easton Wasinger followed him up by blasting his first home run of the season over the right field wall to open the scoring.
The Mules (18-3, 9-1 MIAA) led off with a single and a walk in the third. The runners were moved around with one scoring on a sacrifice bunt to make it a 2-1 ballgame. Three straight hits for Central Missouri in the fourth put them in front 3-2.
It stayed a 3-2 game into the sixth inning beginning with a leadoff triple for the Mules. They scored a run on a double to center field. Another came around to score on a throwing error in the field on a stolen base attempt.
The Ichabods got one run back with two-outs the next time up with Levi Risenhoover smashing a home run to left. Next time up Central Missouri led off with a pair of singles and brought one around on an RBI groundout. With two outs a triple scored another to make it 7-3.
A single by Chase Littrell followed by a walk and hit batter loaded the bases for Washburn in the seventh. Ian Luce was hit by a pitch to score a run. With one out Jackson Mervosh worked a walk to plate another. Jack Borgmann grounded into a fielder's choice that pulled the game within one run.
After finishing out the top of the seventh, Max Clark stayed on the mound and got the first two outs in the eighth. Blake Priest came on and was able to escape a bases-loaded jam without allowing a run. The Ichabods got two on base in the eighth but were unable to tie the game.
Priest tossed a scoreless ninth and in the bottom of the inning Risenhoover tripled but was left at third base as the Mules closed out the game 7-6.
Central Missouri out-hit Washburn 11-7 while the Ichabods were able to work eight walks to just five for UCM. Seven pitchers combined for seven strikeouts on the mound for Washburn. Braden Cork went 3.2 innings in his start, striking out a pair.
At the plate Levi Risenhoover went 3-3 with a home run and a triple while Ian Luce Had a multi-hit day and an RBI. Easton Wasinger went 1-5 with a home run.
