ALVA, Okla. -- A pair of eighth inning runs were the difference on Wednesday afternoon as Washburn fell 6-4 to Northwestern Oklahoma State on the road. The Ichabods return to MIAA play facing Central Oklahoma in a three-game series beginning Friday, March 6 at 3 p.m. in Edmond, Okla.  

Braden Cork got the start for Washburn (6-10) and tossed a scoreless top of the first inning. In the second the Ichabod offense took the lead with Owen Laessig slashing a single to score Jack Borgmann who was hit by a pitch making it 1-0. The next time up Washburn added another run beginning with another hit batter, this time Ian Luce, and a double by Brandt Beeby. 

The Rangers (10-11) got both runs back in the bottom of the third on a two-out triple in the third. The game stayed tied until the top of the sixth with Ichabods pairing back-to-back hits together to take the lead on an RBI single by Luce. In the home half Northwestern Oklahoma State put two runs on the board in two batters with a walk and home run.  

Washburn had an answer again, after an error allowed Beeby to reach leading off the inning Levi Risenhoover and Borgmann each singled to plate a run and tie the game at four. Keegan McDonald and Max Clark each tossed scoreless innings for the Ichabods as the game went into the eighth.  

A pair of hit batters and a single loaded the bases for the Rangers in the eighth. A bases-loaded walk followed by a two-out single were the difference as they took the lead before holding Washburn scoreless in the ninth, holding on to win 6-4. 

The Ichabods led 11-5 in hits while neither side got many free passes with two for Washburn at the plate while allowing four.  

Four pitchers took the mound combining for seven strikeouts while allowing just five hits. Braden Cork pitched five innings in his first start striking out three while allowing four. At the plate both Ian Luce, Trenton Barry and Brooks Richardson had multi-hit days all going 2-4.