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Washburn University has recently played some of its best baseball of the season, taking a win at nationally-ranked Rogers State two weeks ago before taking a series victory over rival Emporia State last weekend.

 

 

The Ichabods will be looking to build off that momentum when they host No. 5-ranked Pittsburg State in a three-game series Thursday through Sunday at Steve Anson Stadium.

 

The series opens with a 4 p.m. Thursday game, followed by a 4 o'clock contest on Friday before concluding the regular season with a 1 p.m. Senior Day game on Saturday.

 

"We've shown the last two weeks that if we go out and play our best game we can play with anybody,'' said Washburn senior pitcher Maclane Finley, a former Seaman standout. "The only games we've lost the last two weeks we've kind of beat ourselves and if we play a full nine innings we're capable of beating anybody.''

 

"Our goal has to be that we are going to be the best that we can be at the end of the year and that we're clicking on all cylinders,'' Washburn coach Harley Douglas said.

 

Washburn is 20-27 overall and 16-17 in the MIAA while Pittsburg State is 38-8 overall and 38-8 and 25-8 in the MIAA. The Gorillas have won 10 straight games.

 

Prior to the game on Saturday Ichabod seniors Finley, Jackson Mervosh, Caleb Lunnon, Griffin Huiatt, Kyle Snyder, Max Clark, Blake Priest and Keegan McDonald will be recognized on the field. The eight seniors have combined to spend 23 seaons with the Ichabods.

Washburn is scoring 7.87 runs per game on the year while opponents are scoring 7.85 runs per game. The Ichabods are 11-8 playing at home.

The Ichabods are hitting .293 and have tallied 39 home runs with 244 total walks.

The pitching staff has a 6.65 earned run average with 361 strikeouts across 407.2 innings.

Junior Ian Luce leads Washburn baseball in multiple categories entering the Ichabods' final regular-season series Thursday through Saturday against Pittsburg State. [File photo/TSN]

Washburn's Ian Luce has reached base in all 47 games, the only Ichabod to do so. Brandt Beeby's 17-game on-base streak is the second longest on the team.

Luce has a team-high 25 games with multiple hits while hitting .410 with seven home runs, five triples and 48 RBI. 

He leads the MIAA and is sixth nationally in hits.

Levi Risenhoover is hitting .304 for the Ichabods while leading the team with 11 home runs and a team-high 56 RBI.

Jack Borgmann is hitting .318 with five home runs and 32 RBI while Beeby is hitting .336 with 26 RBI, with three triples and three home runs and Easton Wasinger is hitting .309 and has driven in 32 runs with four home home runs.

Finley has thrown 64.1 innings across his 12 starts this season. He has struck out 46 batters and has a 5.32 ERA and 5-3 record, posting a team-high in victories. He has thrown into the fifth inning in every start.

Fidel Hatch has pitched in 18 games and has thrown 38.1 innings while striking out 33. He has a team-best 4.70 ERA to go along with a 2-2 record and leads the team with two saves.

Seaman product Gavin Wilhelm has pitched in 12 games while making three starts. He has a 2-0 record across 28.1 innings with 27 strikeouts and a 5.72 ERA.

Former Seaman star Dagen Brewer has started in all 46 games for Pittsburg State, hitting .446 with 21 home runs and 89 RBI while compiling a .583 on base percentage.

Brewer leads the nation in RBI and tops the conference charts in home runs, slugging percentage, total bases, walks and batting average.

Eric Bacon is hitting .404 for the Gorillas with six home runs and 61 RBI.

Bradyn McClure has made 12 pitching appearances with three starts for Pittsburg State. He has thrown 49.1 innings with a 4-0 record and 2.92 ERA while racking up a team-high four saves and 51 strikeouts.

Zach Voss has tossed a team-high 57.2 innings across 12 starts. He has a 3.29 ERA and 9-2 record to go along with 47 strikeouts on the year.

Washburn leads the all-time series between the two teams, 69-63. The Ichabods are 29-21 against Pittsburg State in Topeka.

The single elimination MIAA Tournament will be held in Edmond, Okla. at Wendell Simmons Field May 6-10.