EMPORIA, Kan. – The Washburn Ichabod softball team earned a 4-2 win over Missouri Western on Wednesday afternoon at Trusler Sports in the opening game of the MIAA Tournament, improving to 36-18 on the season advancing to the MIAA Tournament Quarterfinals, where they face top-seeded Missouri Southern at 11 a.m. on Thursday.
The Ichabods struck first in the bottom of the opening inning when
Makenzie Sais worked a leadoff walk, moving into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by
Taylor Brees and a wild pitch, then came home when
Aspen Burgardt singled to left putting Washburn up 1-0.
Missouri Western briefly tied the game in the third, but Washburn answered when Sais singled to start the bottom of the inning and advanced on another sacrifice bunt by Brees. After
Dalaney Anderson reached on a passed ball, Burgardt lifted a sac fly to center to bring Sais home, restoring a one-run advantage at 2-1.
The Ichabods broke the game open in the fourth when
Madi Moore led off with a double to left and pinch runner
Ashlyn Gaughan came home on
Maddie McGee's double to right center. Moments later, McGee and Sais executed a double steal, with McGee swiping home to make it 4-2 to wrap up the scoring.
In the circle,
Sadie Walker delivered a complete-game victory, allowing just four hits and one earned run while striking out nine. She retired the Griffons in order in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to close out the win, improving to 19-8 on the season.
Offensively, Sais finished 2-for-2 with two runs scored and a walk and a stolen base, while Burgardt drove in two runs with a single and a sacrifice fly. McGee added a double and an RBI, and Moore contributed an extra-base hit as Washburn tallied five hits on the afternoon.
