By RICK PETERSON
Washburn University softball team recorded its fifth straight 30-win season on Saturday afternoon with a 9-0, 11-2 MIAA doubleheader sweep over Newman in Wichita.
Senior Sadie Walker picked up her 15th pitching win in Washburn's 9-0 first-game shutout at Newman. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods have now won 15 straight games in a row over Newman.
Washburn combined for 28 hits and 20 runs on the day while holding the Jets to just two total runs across the two games.
The Ichabods have now reached the 30-win plateau four straight seasons, improving to 30-17 overall.
Washburn wasted no time in the opener, scoring twice in the first inning and adding four more runs in the second en route to the 9-0 run-rule victory.
The Ichabods opened the scoring when Dalaney Anderson drove in Makenzie Sais on a groundout before Madi Moore delivered a run-scoring single to plate Aspen Burgardt for an early 2-0 lead.
Washburn broke the game open in the second inning, capitalizing on Newman errors while continuing to put pressure on the Jets defensively.
Maddie McGee singled in a run, Anderson added a sacrifice fly and Burgardt doubled home another run to extend the lead to 6-0.
Taybor Moss kept things going in the third with an RBI double, scoring Moore, while Washburn added two more runs in the fifth to seal the run-rule victory.
At the plate, Moore and Moss both went a perfect 3 for 3 with RBI, while Seaman product Burgardt added two hits and an RBI and Shawnee Heights product Taylor Brees went 3 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Pitcher Sadie Walker tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing just two hits while striking out eight over five innings to improve to 15-8 on the season.
The Ichabods carried their momentum into game two, erupting for four runs in the first inning and four more in the second to seize control early.
After Anderson singled home Sais in the first and Madi Moore smoked a three-run homer to left field, giving Washburn a quick 4-0 advantage.
In the second, Anderson continued her big day at the plate by launching a two-run home run, and Washburn added two more runs on RBI hits from Moss and Kate Ediger to push the lead to 8-1.
Washburn continued to tack on runs throughout the middle innings, including an RBI groundout from Kierra Goos and another unearned run created by aggressive baserunning from Sais.
Anderson led the Ichabod offense by going 2 for 3 with 3 RBI, while Moore finished 2 for 3 with a home run and three RBI.
Ediger added two hits and an RBI, Sais scored twice while adding her 63rd stolen base of the season and Moss remained perfect on the day, going 2 for 2 in game two.
Washburn totaled 15 hits in the nightcap.
In the circle, Jenna Spraigue (6-6) earned the win after allowing one earned run over four innings. Silver Lake product Kendra Cook closed out the game.
The Ichabods at home this week, hosting Missouri Western on Friday at 4 p.m. and Northwest Missouri the following day at 1 p.m. for Senior Day festivities between games one and two.
