By KYLE MANTHE
The Washburn Review
Baseball is a game of slumps and struggles which is why Washburn University was just happy to be back in the win column with a 7-5 mid-week win over Northwest Missouri State (14-23).
“We knew it was going to be a tough game, Northwest has been playing well,” said WU coach Harley Douglas. “Overall I thought our guys fought really well, early on especially and didn’t let us get that turtle in a shell look.”
The victory comes on the heels of two home losses to Central Oklahoma by a combined 17 runs. The Ichabods (25-13) relied on its bullpen going five deep to throw 5⅔ scoreless innings to close the game.
“I thought we did a good job of coming out. We kind of lulled there in the middle, didn’t swing as well as we needed to at certain points,” Douglas said. “But they did a good job against us.”
Connor Scott (left) celebrates a home run with his Ichabod teammates in Wednesday's 7-5 MIAA win over Northwest Missouri. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]
Washburn senior Trevor Marrell pitched a scoreless inning in Wednesday's 7-5 MIAA win over Northwest Missouri. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]
The stand alone match with the Bearcats counted as a conference game, with Washburn moving to 15-9 in MIAA play as the Ichabods get set for seven straight games on the road.
Sophomore Charlie Kiefer got the start, throwing a perfect first two innings. Offensively the Ichabods got an RBI in the first on a groundout from junior Cal Watkins. Sophomore Connor Scott followed with a two-run home run into left field to jump out to a 3-0 lead.
Singles by sophomore Otto Jones and senior Kros Bay led off the second. Senior Tyler Clark-Chiapparelli grounded to shortstop with one out, but beat out the double-play, scoring Jones to make it 4-0.
Kiefer allowed his first base runner with two outs in the third, walking then hitting a batter. Northwest Missouri State picked up its first hit to score a run.
Junior Drew Mackie took the next pitch over the wall in right-center for a home run, tying the game at four.
Washburn loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth. Junior Cale Savage hit a sacrifice fly to take the lead and Clark-Chiapparelli picked up his second RBI with a single.
“I was seeing the ball really well … spent a lot of time on it these past couple days, just trying to figure it out and get right again,” Clark-Chiapparelli said. “When some guys aren't swinging it well other guys step up and it’s kind of exactly what we did today.”
The bases loaded up again, this time for senior Brett Ingram who grounded to shortstop but avoided the double play to score another run and take a 7-5 lead.
Kiefer ended his day after 4⅓ innings and was replaced by sophomore Austin Gerety who entered with two runners on. He allowed a sacrifice fly but got the final two outs to keep Washburn in front, 7-5.
Gerety threw a scoreless sixth inning to finish his day. Seniors Trevor Marreel and Rane Pfeifer tossed scoreless seventh and eighth innings respectively.
Douglas was glad to get so many pitchers in the game in a high-leverage situation with positive responses.
“Our pitchers had kind of lulled for a little bit and now they are starting to get their swagger back and it’s fun to see,” Douglas said “To get a chance to get those guys in there and have to come out and do their job [is important].”
The bullpen effort helped pick up an Ichabod offense that managed only one hit after the fourth inning.
“Our pitching staff did really well coming in and shutting them down along with our defense,” Clark-Chiapparelli said.
Senior Joel Casillas began the ninth inning, allowing three hits and recording two outs. Senior Washburn Rural product Dalton Huggins came on to strike out the final batter, ending the game and picking up his third save.
Gerety moved to 3-0 on the year after earning the win. At the plate Clark-Chiapparelli and Bay each had multi-hit games while Scott added two RBI.
“I think our guys are ready to go, and it’s Emporia, so I would hope they are because Emporia is fighting hard and playing well right now and we need to go down there and try to win a series,” Douglas said.
Washburn will begin its road trip in Emporia, taking on the Hornets beginning Thursday at 6:00 p.m.
WASHBURN 7, NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE 5
Northwest Missouri State (14-23) 0 0 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 – 5 6 0
Washburn (25-13) 3 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 X – 7 8 0
WP – Gerety (3-0). LP – Lovin (1-3). 2B – Washburn: Ingram, McCollum. HR – Northwest Missouri State: Mackie, Washburn: Scott.
