By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn senior Brock Gilliam turned in an outstanding pitching performance in the first game of Sunday's series-ending home MIAA doubleheader against Northeastern State as the Ichabods earned a split.
Gilliam led Washburn to a 7-4 win in the first game, throwing seven scoreless innings while allowing just three hits (two in the first inning) and tying his career high with 13 strikeouts. He recorded five 1-2-3 innings and struck out the side in the fifth.
Brock Gilliam tied his career high with 13 strikeouts Sunday as Washburn took a 7-4 win over Northeastern State. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Washburn's Parker Dunn led off the home half of the second inning with a double to left field and scored the first run of the game on an RBI groundout by Tyler Clark-Chiapparelli.
The Ichabods (6-10 overall, 6-6 MIAA) added another run in the bottom of the third inning to go up 2-0, with Cole Emerson reaching on a fielding error and scoring on EricHinostroza's single.
Washburn added two runs on three hits in the sixth inning, with Zion Bowlin and Clark-Chiapparelli singling and scoring as Clark-Chiapparelli and Kros Bay picked up RBIs.
Washburn extended its lead to 6-0 with a par of runs in the seventh, with Xavier De Leon and Brett Ingram both doubling and Ingram and Dunn driving in runs.
The RiverHawks (10-4, 8-4 MIAA) spoiled the shutout in the ninth inning, scoring four runs on four hits. The game ended on a two-RBI single by Blaze Brothers, who was thrown out at second.
Losing pitcher Jonathan Smithey of Northeastern State went 6 and one-third innings and allowed four runs (three earned) while striking out five.
Northeastern State took a 5-1 win in Sunday's second game to win the series 2-1 as Nic Swanson went the distance on the mound for the RiverHawks, improving to 4-0.
Swanson allowed one earned run on four hits with nine strikeouts and zero walks.
Ingram accounted for Washburn's lone run with a seventh-inning home run.
Ichabod starter Sean McElwee took the loss, going 81/3 innings and giving up four runs on five hits. He struck out a career-high 10 batters.
The Ichabods are scheduled to host Northwest Missouri in a 4 p.m. game Wednesday at Falley Field.
FIRST GAME
WASHBURN BASEBALL 7, NORTHEASTERN STATE 4
Northeastern (9-4, 7-4) 000 000 004 -- 4 8 2
Washburn (6-9, 6-5) 011 002 21x -- 7 12 1
Smithey, Howard (7) and Rodden. Gilliam, Warner (8), DeGarmo (9) and Bay. W -- Gilliam (3-1). L -- Smithey (2-1). 2B -- Northeastern State: Brothers; Washburn: De Leon 2, Ingram, Dunn, Bay.
SECOND GAME
NORTHEASTERN STATE BASEBALL 5, WASHBURN BASEBALL 1
Northeastern (10-4, 8-4) 011 000 003 -- 5 6 1
Washburn (6-10, 6-6) 000 000 100 -- 1 4 0
Swanson and Rodden. McElwee, Minor (9), Bennett (9) and Bay. W -- Swanson (4-0). L -- McElwee (1-1). 2B -- Northeastern State: Freeman 2; Washburn: De Leon, Dunn. HR -- Washburn: Ingram.
