TOPEKA, Kan. -- Five runs in the first two innings put Washburn ahead as they carried the quick start to an 11-2 series-winning victory over Northeastern State on Sunday afternoon. The Ichabods hit the road to face Wichita State on Tuesday at 11 a.m.
Washburn (12-19, 9-10 MIAA) struck first on offense with Trenton Barry leading off with a walk and scoring on a two-out double into right by Brandt Beeby in the bottom of the first. After Beeby stole third he came home on the throw down to second on a stolen base by Jack Borgmann to go up 2-0.
In the second inning Eli Dean lead off with a single, moved to second and stole third. Barry hit a sacrifice fly score him and Ian Luce followed with a triple that scored Owen Laessig to make it 4-0. Levi Risenhoover capped off the three-run inning with a double.
After a pair of scoreless innings by Maclane Finley to begin the game the RiverHawks (11-21, 6-14 MIAA) got on the board in the third with a pair of hits scoring a run with no outs. The bases filled up but Finley was able to escape the jam with a strikeout.
The Ichabods got the run back with another leadoff single from Dean in the third. With two-outs Laessig slashed a single into center to score him and make it 6-1. The score stayed that way until the sixth inning with Northeastern State scratching across one run on three hits.
In the home half of the sixth Washburn loaded the bases with one out, scoring one run on a double play groundout to go up 7-2. Blake Priest took over on the mound in the seventh inning and tossed a scoreless frame.
Next time up a pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out. Luce shot a single up the middle to score two. The Ichabods continued to add on in the eighth after Easton Wasinger and Jack Borgmann slashed singles Kolby Wheeler followed with a single to center that scored both, making it an 11-2 game.
Priest stayed on the mound, throwing a scoreless eighth inning and would earn a save as he retired the RiverHawks in order in the ninth to secure the series win.
Washburn led 15-6 in hits and went without committing an error while Northeastern State was charged one. Only two pitchers took the mound combining for nine strikeouts and walking just four. Maclane Finley went six innings with six punchouts and allowed just two runs, he earned the win. Blake Priest picked up the save tossing the final three innings without allowing a hit and striking out three.
Ian Luce led the way at the plate going 3-6 with a team-high three RBI. Eli Dean went 3-4 in his first career multi-hit game. Trenton Barry also had a multi-hit day going 2-4 in the leadoff spot.
