CLAREMORE, Okla. -- Washburn built an early lead and used a six-run ninth inning to protect it and win 12-4 Saturday afternoon over No. 7 Rogers State, evening the series at one game each. The Ichabods will look for a series victory on Sunday afternoon beginning at 1 p.m. in the rubber match.
Neither team got on the board in the first two innings of action with Maclane Finley keeping the Hillcats (35-7, 23-5 MIAA) off the board. Trenton Barry led off the third with a single and came around to score with two-outs on a single by Jack Borgmann that found outfield grass, putting Washburn (18-24, 14-14 MIAA) up 1-0.
Next time at the plate a walk followed by a single from Brooks Richardson put two on. Both scored on a double to right field from Barry. Ian Luce followed that with his second home run of the week over the right field wall to go up 5-0. Rogers State was held scoreless until they strung together a pair of walks with two hits to score two in the fifth inning.
After the Hillcats got two on with one out in the sixth Griffin Huiatt took over on the mound. The bases filled up but he got out of the inning scoreless to maintain the lead. Next time up Rogers State did score two runs, on a pair of bases loaded walks, cutting the deficit to one.
After Richardson led off the eighth with a single Washburn added some insurance with a two-out double from Levi Risenhoover. In the top of the ninth Brandt Beeby led off with a homer to right field. After a walk and two grounders Richardson found a hole up the middle to plate another run. Barry walked and Luce plated two more with a double into right. Risenhoover reached on a double and Borgmann drove both in with a single to cap the six-run ninth.
Caleb Lunnon tossed a scoreless ninth to finish off the first ranked victory of the season for the Ichabods.
Washburn led 16-11 in hits while the Hillcats had a 10-6 advantage in walks. Four pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts for the Ichabods. Maclane Finley went 5.1 innings in his start allowing two earned as he earned his fifth win of the season. Fidel Hatch tossed 1.2 scoreless out of the bullpen with three strikeouts.
Brooks Richardson went 4-5 at the plate driving in one run, he was one of six players with multi-hit days. Ian Luce went 3-6 with a home run to drive in four. Jack Borgmann went 2-5 with three RBI and Brandt Beeby also went 2-5 with a home run.
