TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn scored six run in the first three innings Thursday afternoon and held on the rest of the way to win 9-3 over Arkansas-Fort Smith in the series-opener. The Ichabods will play game two at 2 p.m. on Friday afternoon.  

After Kai Bennett delivered a scoreless first inning on the mound Washburn (14-23, 10-13 MIAA) got on the board early. With two outs Jack Borgmann doubled and was brought home on a two-run homer to left field by Levi Risenhoover. The Ichabods got two runners on in the second and after two wild pitches another run came around to score to make it 3-0.  

The Ichabods continued to score with back-to-back walks to start the third. Risenhoover laced a double into left center to score both. Easton Wasinger hit a sacrifice fly to bring him home and make it 6-0. The Lions (4-31, 3-23 MIAA) got on the board in the fourth inning with three hits to score two runs in the fourth.  

The score stayed that way into the seventh inning which saw Washburn load the bases with no outs on a single by Risenhoover and two walks. Wasinger slashed a single into right field to score two runs. Another scored on an RBI grounder by Eli Dean to go up 9-2.  

Fidel Hatch took over in the eighth inning and recorded two outs before the game went into a 45-minute rain delay. He finished off the clean inning to maintain the six-run lead. He finished off the game with a clean ninth inning to secure the victory.  

Washburn led 11-7 in hits while also working six walks while allowing just two. The only error of the game was committed by Arkansas-Fort Smith.  

Kai Bennett and Fidel Hatch went the distance on the mound. Bennett earned the win throwing seven innings with eight strikeouts and just two earned runs. Fidel Hatch struck out three in his two innings of work.  

Levi Risenhoover went 3-4 at the plate falling a triple short of the cycle while driving in four and scoring three runs. Jack Borgmann went 2-3 with two walks and scored three runs. Easton Wasinger was 2-2 with three RBI and walk.