EDMOND, Okla. -- Washburn battled back from a nine-run first inning deficit coming all the way back to win 19-11 over Central Oklahoma in the series-opener to snap a three-game losing streak. The Ichabods will take the field for game two at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
The Bronchos (10-8, 1-3 MIAA) jumped in front right away, scoring nine runs on six hits and an error in the first inning. Washburn (7-10, 4-1 MIAA) started the comeback right away, loading the bases on a hit batter and singles from Jack Borgmann and Chase Littrell. Brooks Richardson worked a bases-loaded walk and Ian Luce followed with a double to score two more.
An error in the field brought in one more and Jackson Mervosh plated another with a single to make it 9-5 still with no outs. Then with two outs, Easton Wasinger shot a single through the right side to score another, followed by a double from Borgmann that capped off the seven-run inning.
Griffin Huiatt took over on the mound in the second, throwing a scoreless inning. In the third Washburn got a run back on a wild pitch. In the fourth Borgmann blasted a solo home run to straightaway center, tying the game at nine. Huiatt finished up his outing with a scoreless fourth inning to keep the game tied.
In the sixth with two outs Littrell singled and Richardson worked a walk to flip the order to the top. Luce stayed hot, blasting a home run to right center to take a 12-9 lead. The next time up Washburn loaded the bases with no outs. Borgmann hit a clean single up the middle to score one. Littrell followed with a sacrifice fly and Richardson scored another with a single to go up 15-9.
A walk and a home run scored two runs for the Central Oklahoma in the bottom of the inning. The Ichabods got one run right back with a solo shot from Mervosh to lead off the eighth. After the bases got loaded up again Richardson worked a walk, Luce was hit and Trenton Barry walked to bring around three runs and go up 19-11.
Gavin Wilhelm took over on the mound in the eighth and worked a scoreless final two innings to complete the comeback victory.
Washburn out-hit the Bronchos 18-13 while also leading in walks 9-6. Five pitchers completed the game striking out 11 hitters. Griffin Huiatt earned the win going 3.0 innings with a pair of strikouts and no runs allowed.
The Ichabods hit a season-high three home runs, one coming from Ian Luce who went 4-6 with six RBI and three runs scored. Jack Borgmann went 3-5 with a long shot and three RBI and Chase Littrell also went 3-5, driving in a pair. Ten players had hits in the game for Washburn, four with multiple hits.
