TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn built an early lead but were unable to come back after a four-run seventh inning put Emporia State in front for good as they won 5-4 to even the series. The Ichabods will look to take the series in the rubber match on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m.
After Maclane Finley delivered a scoreless first inning, Washburn (19-27, 15-17 MIAA) was able to jump in front right away. Ian Luce slashed a one-out single and Jack Borgmann walked to put two on. Levi Risenhoover doubled to plate Luce and take the lead. Easton Wasinger slashed a single to right field that scored two more.
The Hornets (32-14, 19-13 MIAA) got on the board in the fifth inning on a pair of errors in the field to score one run. Finley worked around the errors and delivered a scoreless sixth to wrap up his outing. In the seventh inning Emporia State loaded the bases on three straight singles. An RBI groundout and fielder's choice scored two runs to tie the game. A double with two-outs scored two more to put the Hornets up 5-3.
In the home half of the inning Jackson Mervosh and Brooks Richardson each slashed singles to put runners at the corners. With two outs Trenton Barry found a hole on the left side of the infield to score Mervosh and pull within one run. The Ichabods left two on base in the seventh and went down in order in the eighth inning.
Caleb Lunnon took over on the mound in the eighth with a 1-2-3 inning before leaving two Hornets stranded in a scoreless ninth. Washburn was unable to even up the score in the ninth as the series moved to one game each.
The Ichabods led 12-8 in hits while also leading 4-2 in walks drawn. In the field they committed three errors to just one for Emporia State.
Four pitchers took the mound for Washburn. Maclane Finley went 6.0 innings in his start, striking out five and allowing just one unearned run. Caleb Lunnon finished the game with a pair of scoreless innings.
At the plate four players had multi-hit games. Jackson Mervosh went 3-5 while Easton Wasinger went 2-4 and drove in a pair. Levi Risenhoover went 2-4 with a pair of doubles and a walk.
