TOPEKA (KSNT) – A come from behind win for the Ichabods.
Washburn baseball (19-26, 15-16 MIAA) took Game 1 of the Turnpike Tussle over Emporia State (31-14, 18-13 MIAA) 5-4 on Friday, April 24.
The Ichabods had a three-run seventh inning which powered Washburn to the win.
“It’s huge to get the first win,” head coach Harley Douglas told 27 Sports. “It’s important to open the series and hold that leverage heading into the next one.”
Emporia State opened the scoring in the second with a two-run single form Cooper Schwindt.
Washburn’s Jackson Mervosh would pull a score back in the fourth with a base hit to score Jack Borgmann.
ESU would score again in the fifth when Noah Steele crossed home plate after an attempted pickoff at second. The Ichabods would match the score with an RBI double from Trenton Berry.
The Hornets scored the lone run in the sixth inning as Logan Myers grounded to second to put ESU up 4-2.
Washburn would erupt in the seventh inning to take its first lead of the game and hold on for the win.
Barry would open the scoring with an RBI triple to cut the deficit to one. Ian Luce would then bring in Barry with a base hit to tie the game at 4-4.
Levi Risenhoover would pop one out to left field to bring in the eventual game-winning run.
“Berry did a great job going the other way with it, but on the mound, our guys were gritty,” Douglas said. “Kai [Bennett] didn’t have his best stuff, but he found a way to get out of it. Griffin [Huiatt] and Fidel [Hatch] out of the bullpen were great.”
Bennett opened the game, pitching 4.2 innings, allowing five hits and three runs. He struck out three and walked six.
Huiatt got the win for the Ichabods. He pitched 2.2 innings, allowing two hits and a run. Hatch got the save with two strikeouts through 1.2 innings.
Game 2 of the series set for Saturday at 2 p.m.
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