By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University baseball opened a three-game MIAA series with Rogers State on Thursday at Falley Field, and after falling behind 2-0, it was all Ichabods the rest of the way as WU topped the Hillcats 12-2 in eight innings while pounding out 16 hits in the win.
Payton McHarg had two homers and a double in Thursday's 12-2 MIAA win over Rogers State. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Caden Bressler went six innings to pick up the pitching win in Washburn's 12-2 MIAA win over Rogers State on Thursday. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Ichabod starter Caden Bressler improved to 3-2 on the season, striking out four. After hitting a pair of Hillcats in the first inning, who both came around to score on sac flies, he allowed only three hits the rest of the way in his six-inning stint.
After Rogers State (16-13 overall, 8-10 MIAA) took the early lead, the Ichabods came back with three runs in the first, three more in the second and added two additional runs in the third to open up an 8-2 advantage.
In the first inning, Payton McHarg took a 2-2 pitch over the right-field fence leading off the inning.
After singles by Cash Jay and Hayden Priest, Jay scored on of the Hillcats' three errors on the afternoon. Jett Buck doubled down the left-field line, scoring Priest as Washburn plated three in its first at bat.
In the second inning, Washburn (17-13, 11-7) got things started with McHarg doubling to left-center and he scored on a single by Jay. Priest then tripled down the line driving in Jay and he would come around to score on a throwing error by the Hillcats as the Ichabods went up 6-2.
Washburn scored two more runs in the third when Connor Scott started the inning with a single. Then, after Grant Jones grounded out to score Scott, McHarg hit his nation-leading 16th home run of the season as Washburn stretched its lead to 8-2.
After neither team scored in the fourth of fifth innings, Bressler retired the Hillcats in order in the sixth and Washburn added three more runs in the frame, taking advantage of two bases-loaded walks.
Priest and Blake Scott both singled and Connor Scott walked to load the bases before Cal Watkins drew the first of the free passes and then Jones drew a walk to send Chase Littrell home. After a wild pitch scored Connor, Washburn had a 11-2 lead after six innings.
Washburn left a runner on in the seventh, and after two shutout innings from reliever Charllie Kiefer, the Ichabods closed out the game in the bottom of the eighth after singles by Connor Scott and Jones, Scott scored to cap the 12-2 run-rule victory.
Mcharg, Priest and Connor Scott all had three hits in the game and all three Ichabods also scored three runs.
McHarg had a double to go with his two homer game and Jones finished with three RBI.
Bressler threw 89 pitches in his six innings, scattering three hits while striking out four. Kiefer finished the final two innings striking out one and allowing one hit.
Game 2 of the series is scheduled for a 4 p.m. first pitch on Friday afternoon.
