By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University baseball scored three runs in the seventh inning to come from behind and take game one from Emporia State 5-4 on Friday evening in Steve Anson Stadium.
Griffin Huiatt picked up the pitching win in Washburn's 5-4 come-from-behind decision over Emporia State Friday. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods will look to secure the series in game two at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
After a scoreless first inning, the Hornets (31-14 overall, 18-13 MIAA) were able to walk the bases loaded in the second inning before slashing a single into right to score two runs.
Ichabod starter Kai Bennett settled in on the mound after the second, tossing scoreless third and fourth innings.
A one-out single from Jack Borgmann followed by a stolen base put him in scoring position before Jackson Mervosh cashed in with a single to left field, scoring Borgmann to put Washburn (19-26, 15-16) on the board.
A leadoff double came around to score for Emporia State to put the Hornets in front 3-1, but an error in the outfield allowed Owen Laessig to reach second base with two outs in the bottom of the fifth.
Trenton Barry followed with a double to the outfield wall, scoring a run to make it a 3-2 game.
The Hornets answered with one run in the sixth before Griffin Huiatt finished his outing out of the bullpen by throwing a scoreless seventh inning.
In the home half of the seventh Laessig was hit by a pitch before scoring on a triple into the right field corner by Barry.
Ian Luce followed with a single up the middle to tie the game before Borgmann slashed a double and Levi Risenhoover lifted a sacrifice fly to score Luce and give Washburn a 5-4 lead.
Fidel Hatch took over on the mound with one out in the eighth and retired both batters he faced to strand one. He stayed on the mound in the ninth, retiring the Hornets in order with one strikeout to close out the win.
Washburn led 10-7 in hits while also having a 7-2 advantage in walks.
Three pitchers combined to go the distance for the Ichabods.
Bennett went 4.2 innings with three strikeouts. Hiatt earned the win, throwing 2.1 innings with one earned run. Hatch picked up his second save, tossing the final 1.2 innings with two strikeouts.
Borgmann went 4-4 at the plate with a double and scored a run while Barry went 2-5 with a pair of extra-base hits to plate two runs.
Luce extended his on-base streak to 45-games going 1-4 with an RBI.
