By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Caden Bressler capped off Washburn's run-rule victory on Friday afternoon with a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh as the Ichabods rolled to a 12-1 decision over Rogers State in the series opener.
Game 2 is set for Saturday at 2 p.m. at Falley Field.
Caden Bressler ended Friday's 12-1 Washburn win over Rogers State with a three-run home run. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Washburn's Jack Brimacombe picked up a complete-game pitching victory in Friday's 12-1 win over Rogers State. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
After getting out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the second, Washburn (26-18 overall, 18-10 MIAA) got on the board in the home half of the frame.
Easton Bruce and Bressler drew back-to-back walks and both moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Shane Morrow worked the third straight walk to load the bases with one out.
Blake Scott brought the first run in on a sacrifice fly. Then, on a 1-1 pitch, Cale Savage's popup bounced out of the second baseman's glove and two runs scored on the play to make it 3-0 in favor of Washburn.
In the bottom of the third with two outs, Trey Adams was issued a free pass with a walk and Bruce followed that up with a first pitch no-doubt home run to right field to extend the Ichabod lead to 5-0.
Washburn's offense continued to add to its advantage in the fourth inning.
After a double by Scott, Andrew Schmidtlein went yard to center field. Savage reached first after getting hit by a pitch, Ike Book was walked on four pitches and both scored on Adams' two-out double that went over the left fielder's head to stretch the lead to 9-0.
Rogers State (23-18, 11-17 MIAA) erased the shutout in the top of the fifth after a leadoff single made its way around the bases on a wild pitch, groundout, and then RBI single.
The Ichabod defense turned double plays in the sixth and seventh innings to maintain the eight-run lead.
The bottom of the seventh inning started with eight of the first nine pitches being balls and Book and Adams getting walked. With one out and on the first pitch, Bressler sent the ball over the fence in dead center for his first home run as an Ichabod to finish off the run-rule win.
The Ichabods out hit the Hillcats, 7-5, and received 10 free passes with nine walks and one hit by pitch. Bruce, Schmidtlein, and Bressler all hit home runs and combined for seven RBI and Bruce and Bressler scored twice. Adams was 1-2 with a double, two walks, two RBI, and two runs scored.
Washburn starter Jack Brimacombe improved to 4-2 after going all seven innings and allowing only one run on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts. He retired the side in order in the first and only allowed two runners past second base.
