TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn baseball finishes the regular season out with three games against No. 5 Pittsburg State at home concluding with senior day on Saturday, May 2 beginning at 1 p.m. at Steve Anson Stadium. The series opens on Thursday, April 30 at 4 p.m.

LEADING OFF

>> Washburn wraps up the regular season with three games at home against No. 5 Pittsburg State.

>> The Ichabods take on the Gorillas beginning Thursday, April 30 beginning at 4 p.m. Game two is set for 4 p.m. on Friday with a 1 p.m. first pitch on Saturday for senior day.

>> Washburn improved to 20-27 overall and 16-17 in the MIAA after taking two out of three games from Emporia State last weekend.

>> The Ichabods are coming off a fourth straight winning season in 2025 going 28-25 overall and 18-18 inside the MIAA. They finished 7th in the regular season and won two games in the MIAA Tournament before falling in the semifinal round.

>> They were picked to finish fifth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll for a second straight year.

BODS AND BITS

>> Washburn is scoring 7.87 runs per game on the year while opponents are scoring 7.85 runs per game. 

>> They are 11-8 playing at home at Steve Anson Stadium, 8-17 in road games and 1-2 in neutral field meetings.

>> At the plate the Ichabods are hitting .293 with a .407 OB% and a .455 SLG%. They have tallied 39 home runs with 244 total walks.

>> The pitching staff has a 6.65 ERA with 361 strikeouts across 407.2 innings. They have allowed 480 hits and issued 273 walks. 

>> Washburn has a .965 fielding percentage as a team with 61 errors and 21 turned double plays.

>> On the basepaths the Ichabods have gone 91-110 in stolen base attempts while opponents have gone 71-97. 

>> Washburn has returned 19 players from the 2025 roster with eight of them as  seniors, four juniors and seven sophomore. 

SENIOR SALUTE

>> Prior to the game on Saturday the eight Ichabod seniors will be recognized on the field. 

>> The eight seniors have combined to spend 23 seaons with the Ichabods.

>> Presentations for Jackson Mervosh, Caleb Lunnon, Maclane Finley, Griffin Huiatt, Kyle Snyder, Max Clark, Blake Priest and Keegan McDonald are scheduled to begin at 12:35 on Saturday.

STREAKS AND STATS

>> After Ian Luce's 25-game hitting streak came to an end in the series finale against Emporia State the 11-game streak of Trenton Barry is the longest active streak.

>> Ian Luce has reached base in all 47 games, the only player to do so. Brandt Beeby's 17 game on-base streak is the second longest on the team.

>> Luce has a team-high 25 games with multiple hits. 

>> Washburn is reaching base at a .417 clip to lead off the inning. 

>> The Ichabods are hitting 12-40 (.300) when pinch hitting this season. Opponents are just 6-37 (.162) when pinch-hitting.

>> Washburn is outscoring opponents 100-66 over the eighth and ninth innings of games this season. They have outscored teams 3-2 in extra innings this season.

AROUND THE ORDER

>> Ian Luce has started in all 47 games hitting .410 with a .502 OB% for a 1.157 OPS, all team-highs. He has 30 total extra-base hits including seven home runs and five triples. He has driven in 48 runs and is 18-21 in stolen base attempts. He is 1st in the MIAA and 6th nationally in hits, 4th in the MIAA and 60th nationally in batting average while ranking 2nd in the conference in triples and 3rd in total bases.

>> Levi Risenhoover is hitting .304 while starting in all 45 games he has appeared in. He leads the team with 11 home runs and a team-high 56 RBI while carrying a 1.003 OPS. He is 9-12 in stolen base attempts. He is 3rd in the MIAA in doubles, 6th in home runs and 7th in RBI.

>> Jack Borgmann has played in 46 games making 43 starts. He is hitting .318 with five home runs and 32 RBI to give him a 1.014 OPS. He is 17-19 in stolen base attempts and leads the team with 44 walks for a .495 OB%. He is 2nd in the MIAA and 11th in the nation in walks while ranking 14th in the conference in OB%.

>> Brandt Beeby has played in 36 games making 26 starts and is hitting .336 with a 1.036 OPS. He has driven in 26 runs with three triples and three home runs. He is also 7-9 in stolen base attempts.

>> Trenton Barry has played in 46 games making 44 starts hitting .298 with a .834 OPS. He has hit two home runs with five triples while driving in 28. He has a .407 OB% while going 13-15 in stolen base attempts. He ranks 2nd in the MIAA and 18th nationally in triples.

>> Jackson Mervosh has played and started in all 47 games and is hitting .269 with a .747 OPS. He has 15 doubles with one home run while driving in 24 runs on the year. He has a .381 OB% and is 4-4 in stealing bases. He is 10th in the conference in doubles.

>> Easton Wasinger has played in 36 games making 32 starts. He is hitting .309 with a .881 OPS. He has driven in 32 runs with four home home runs and has a .393 OB%.

>> Brooks Richardson has played in 43 games making 42 starts. He is hitting .259 with 15 RBI and one home run with a .369 OB%.

>> Chase Littrell is hitting .243 with a .740 OPS while playing in 27 games and making 23 starts. He has hit one home run with 22 RBI and is 8-9 stealing bases. He has worked 20 walks with a .416 OB%.

>> Owen Laessig has started in 36 games and played in 39. He is hitting .235 with 18 RBI and a home run while going 2-3 in stolen base attempts.

>> Eli Dean has appeared in 25 games making 15 starts. He is hitting .220 with eight RBI and one home run while going 5-6 stealing bases.

>> Jarrett Herrmann has played in 22 games making nine starts. He is hitting .205 with a .364 OB%. He is 4-5 in stolen base attempts.

ON THE MOUND

>> Kai Bennett has thrown 57.1 innings over his 12 starts. He leads the team with 57 strikeouts and has a 5.34 ERA. He is 2-4 on the year with a 1.71 WHIP. He is 5th in the MIAA in strikeouts per nine innings and 7th in total punchouts.

>> Maclane Finley leads team throwing 64.1 innings across his 12 starts this season. He has struck out 46 batters and has a 5.32 ERA and 5-3 record,  a team-high in victories. He has thrown into the fifth inning in every start.

>> Fidel Hatch has pitched in 18 games making one start and has thrown 38.1 innings while striking out 33. He has a team-best 4.70 ERA to go along with a 2-2 record and leads the team with two saves.

>> Mark Hoffmann has pitched in 19 games making six starts. He has thrown 41.0 innings with 32 strikeouts and a 6.37 ERA. He has a 3-5 record on the year with one save.

>> Caleb Lunnon has made nine starts for the Ichabods with 12 total appearances throwing 38.2 innings on the year. He has struck out 42 batters. He  is 1-2 on the year with a 9.78 ERA.

>> Blake Priest has pitched in 14 games out of the bullpen throwing 18.1 innings. He has one save with 20 strikeouts and has a 5.40 ERA.

>> Gavin Wilhelm has pitched in 12 games while making three starts. He has a 2-0 record across 28.1 innings with 27 strikeouts and a 5.72 ERA.

>> Griffin Huiatt has made 20 appearances with two starts tossing 30.1 innings. He has 23 strikeouts, a 4-2 record and 5.65 ERA with one save.

>> Max Strash has appeared in 15 games out of the bullpen for the Ichabods throwing 14.0 innings. He has 13 strikeouts with an ERA of 7.07.

>> Braden Cork has made nine appearances with two starts throwing 15.1 innings. He has 10 strikeouts with a 8.80 ERA. 

>> Sean Kingston has made eight appearances throwing 9.1 innings and striking out five with a 5.79 ERA.

>> Keegan McDonald has appeared in ten games out of the bullpen throwing 9.0 innings with seven strikeouts and a 9.00 ERA.

>> Max Clark has made 11 appearances out of the bullpen throwing 10.0 innings. He is 0-1 on the year with 12 strikeouts and a 10.80 ERA.

IN THE FIELD

>>  Excluding first basemen and catchers, Levi Risenhoover leads the team with 88 putouts, Ian Luce is second on the team with 77.

>> Jackson Mervosh leads the team with 113 assists, Trenton Barry is second on the team with 106.

>> Brooks Richardson has a team-high 312 putouts from behind the plate while Jack Borgmann has 244 playing mostly at first base.

>> Richardson has thrown out a team-high 19 would-be base stealers this season.

NUMBERS AROUND THE NATION

>> As a team in 2026 Washburn stacks up to the rest of the nation and conference well in several areas...

Walks  - 244 (6th MIAA / 41st nationally)

Doubles per game - 2.47 (1st MIAA / 8th nationally) 

Sacrifice bunts - 25 (7th MIAA / 60th nationally)

Stolen bases - 91 (4th MIAA / 56th nationally)

Triples per game  - 0.36 (4th MIAA / 26th nationally)

Sacrifice flies - 26 (4th MIAA / 57th nationally)

Scoring - 7.9 runs per game (8th MIAA / 77th nationally) 

Hits - 484 (5th MIAA / 53rd nationally)

Strikeouts per nine innings - 8.0 (3rd MIAA / 77th nationally)

Fielding percentage - .965 (10th MIAA / 85th nationally) 

HEAD COACH HARLEY DOUGLAS

>> Former Washburn All-MIAA outfielder Harley Douglas enters his 12th season at the helm of the Washburn baseball program in 2025.

>> In his eleven plus season, Douglas carries an all-time record of 304-269 with seven appearances in the MIAA Tournament and led the program to its first-ever NCAA Tournament in 2022.

>> He has also coached a total of 72 all-MIAA selections, including the MIAA Player and Pitcher of the Year in 2016.

>> Prior to returning to his alma mater in 2012 he was the head coach at St. Marys HS from 2003-06 and at Rossville HS from 2007-10. 

>> Douglas is a two-time Washburn graduate, receiving his Exercise Physiology degree in 2002 before earning an Education degree in 2004. He also earned a Master's Degree in Adaptive Special Education from Emporia State in 2010. 

ASSISTANT COACHES

>> Connor Crimmins is in his eighth season with the Ichabods on the coaching staff.

>> He began his coaching career spending the prior two seasons on Brad Hill's Kansas State staff serving as a graduate assistant

>> While at Washburn, Crimmins played both football and baseball, finishing his career on the diamond top 10 in sacrifice flies (4th/11), doubles (6th/38) and RBI (t-7th/132), while having the 12th-most at-bats (575).

>> He graduated from Washburn in 2016 with his bachelor's and earned his master's in college student development and counseling from K-State.  

>> Rane Pfeifer is in his third season on the coaching staff after finishing his playing career with the Ichabods in 2023. 

>> He finished his career second all-time in opponent batting average (.218), third in games started (36), fourth in strikeouts (210) and 19th in innings pitched (165.2)

>> Pfeifer graduated from Washburn with a bachelor's degree in business management in May 2022

>> Caden Bressler moves from the starting rotation to the coaching staff for the 2026 season in his first as a coach.

>> He finished his three-year career with the Ichabods in 2025where he appeared in 62 games as a hitter and 32 on the mound. He throw 113.2 total innings with a 6-6 record and three saves.

>> Bressler graduated with his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from Washburn in 2025. 

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION

PITTSBURG STATE GORILLAS

>> Pittsburg State improved to 38-8 and 25-8 in the MIAA after defeating Newman on Tuesday, April 28. They have won ten straight games.

>> They are ranked No. 5 in the latest NCBWA rankings. 

>> Last season the Gorillas went 42-12 overall and 27-9 in the MIAA. They won three games at the NCAA Central Region tournament before falling to Central Missouri.

>> Brock Buckingham is in his 1st season as the head coach at Pittsburg State. 

>> They are 24-5 on the year playing at home, 13-7 on the road and 6-0 in neutral field games.

>> Pittsburg State is scoring 11.65 runs per game while opponents are scoring 4.46 per outing.

>> The Gorillas offense is hitting .357 as a team with a .478 OB% and a .571 SLG%. They have 69 home runs and have tallied 312 total walks with 279 strikeouts.

>> They rank 1st in the MIAA in walks, batting average, home runs. OB%, scoring and SLG% while ranking top-20 nationally in each.

>> Dagen Brewer has played and started in all 46 games hitting .446 with a 1.558 OPS. He has 21 home runs and 89 RBI and has compiled a .583 OB%. He leads the nation in RBI and tops the conference charts in home runs, SLG%, total bases, walks and batting average.

>> Eric Bacon has also started all 46 games. He is hitting .404 with a 1.093 OPS with six home runs and 61 RBI. He has stolen 19 bases in 20 attempts and has a .482 OB%. He leads the MIAA in runs, is 2nd in hits, 4th in RBI and 5th in batting average.

>> The pitching staff has a 4.43 ERA as a team across 375.2 innings. They have struck out 322 batters while walking 164 and allowing 356 total hits.

>> The Gorillas are 1st in the MIAA in ERA while ranking 3rd in both WHIP and strikeout-to-walk-ratio. 

>> Bradyn McClure has made 12 appearances with three starts for Pittsburg State. He has thrown 49.1 innings with a 4-0 record and 2.92 ERA while racking up a team-high four saves and 51 strikeouts. He is 2nd in the MIAA in hits allowed per nine innings and 3rd in both WHIP and ERA.

>> Zach Voss has tossed a team-high 57.2 innings across 12 starts. He has a 3.29 ERA and 9-2 record to go along with 47 strikeouts on the year. He is fifth in the conference in both WHIP and ERA.

>> Washburn leads the all-time series between the two teams 69-63. They are 29-21 against Pittsburg State in Topeka.

>>The first meeting came on April 20, 1963 and was a 6-5 win for the Ichabods in Pittsburg. Last season both teams won two games out of four with all four being played in Pittsburg. Washburn won a 2-1 MIAA Tournament Quarterfinals game.

MILESTONE MARKERS

>> Griffin Huiatt is 2nd in program history with 73 career appearances. He ranks tied for 4th among all players with eight career saves. 

>> Jackson Mervosh is tied for 6th in Washburn history with 39 doubles. 

>> Fidel Hatch is tied for 14th in program history with five career saves. 

>> Ian Luce's current .410 batting average is the 12th best in a single-season in program history. He is already 5th in program history with 82 his this season and tied for 9th in both doubles and triples in a season.

>> Jack Borgmann's 44 walks are the tied for the 8th most most in a single season in program history.

WASHBURN BASEBALL HISTORY

>> The 2026 season will be the 74th year of Washburn Baseball.

>> The Ichabods have a 1407-1340-3 record in program history. 

>> There have been 35 seasons with 20+ wins; 25 seasons with 25+ wins; and 13 seasons with 30+ wins.

>> Washburn has earned 34 All-Region selections and 14 All-America awards.

ON DECK

>> Senior day for the Ichabods will be on the regular season finale May 2 against Pittsburg State at 1 p.m.

>> The single elimination MIAA Tournament will be held in Edmond, Okla. at Wendell Simmons Field between May 6-10.