TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn built an early lead but were unable to overcome to long ball from No. 5 Pittsburg State falling 10-7 in the series-opener on Thursday evening. The Ichabods will look to even the series in game two beginning at 4 p.m. on Friday.
After Kai Bennett delivered a scoreless first two innings Washburn (20-28, 16-18 MIAA) got on the board with a two-run blast by Brooks Richardson that drove in Brandt Beeby who doubled with two-outs. The Gorillas (39-8, 26-8 MIAA) responded with two of their own in the third on two hits and two walks.
Ian Luce took the lead right back with a leadoff home run off the scoreboard in right field making it 3-2 Ichabods. Beeby did the same in the fourth inning as he cleared the wall in left-center to begin the inning. Walks from Richardson and Eli Dean put two on. With two outs Jack Borgmann reached on an infield single that loaded the bases. Levi Risenhoover cleared the bases with a triple into the gap in right center that made it 7-2.
Pittsburg State answered back with a solo home run to begin the fifth followed by a pair of singles that plated another run. A two-run shot from the Gorillas made it a one-run game before they were able to take the lead on another two-run home run in the seventh.
They added two more runs on a single up the middle with two outs in the ninth but the Washburn offense managed just one hit in the final three innings to fall 10-7.
Pittsburg State led 14-11 in hits while also working a 7-3 advantage in walks. Both errors in the game were committed by the Ichabods.
Four pitchers were used by Washburn with Kai Bennett tossing 4.0 innings in his start and allowing two earned runs. At the plate four players had multi-hit days. Levi Risenhoover went 2-3 and drove in a team-high three runs while Ian Luce, Brandt Beeby and Brooks Richardson all went yard.
