By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University baseball used a six-run fifth inning to take Game 1 of the final regular-season series against Newman 8-2 on Friday evening.
Topekan Cooper Carlgren picked up the pitching win in Friday's 8-2 Washburn MIAA win over Newman. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods will go for the series win on Saturday with first pitch at 2 p.m.
Before the game there will be a ceremony on the field to rename the WU facility Falley Field at Steve Anson Stadium beginning at 1:30 p.m.
After a scoreless first inning it was the Jets (10-31 overall, 6-25 MIAA) who got on the scoreboard first with a one-out solo home run in the second inning.
The Ichabod (24-24, 16-18) offense got two triples in the first three innings, first from Connor Scott then Jett Buck.The second came from Buck in the third inning with two outs. Jackson Mervosh followed with a double to score him and tie the game.
Washburn Rural product Cooper Carlgren started on the mound for the Ichabods and after the second inning run he settled in with scoreless third and fourth innings, combining for four strikeouts in the two frames.
After a scoreless fifth from Carlgren, Washburn loaded the bases on a hit batter, walk and single by Hayden Priest. Mervosh continued to drive in runs, doubling into right center to score two more. Easton Bruce traded places with him, doubling to right to make it 5-1. Darian Duhon made it a six-run inning, blasting a home run to right and add two more runs.
In the top of the sixth a leadoff walk would get moved around before scoring on a fielders choice, cutting the deficit by one run. Washburn got the run back in the home half, beginning with a leadoff double from Owen Laessig. He moved to third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Payton McHarg to go up 8-2
Carlgren stranded one on base in the seventh and stayed on for the eighth, getting the first two outs before exiting with a runner at second, making it the longest outing of his Ichabod career. Cal Leonard entered and recorded the final out to end the inning.
Ashton Jenkins took the ball in the ninth and worked around a one-out single to deliver a scoreless inning and end the series opener.
Washburn out-hit Newman 11-8 in the contest while also working four walks compared to just one free pass for the visitors. Nine of the 11 base knocks for the Ichabods went for extra bases.
The pitching staff combined for 11 strikouts, with eight coming from Carlgren across 107 pitches in his 7.2 innings of work, allowing just two runs.
At the plate both Buck and Mervosh had three-hit days. All three of Buck's hits went for extra bases while Mervosh drove in three. Duhon drove in a pair with his homer as well.
Eli Wohl went 3-3 for the Jets and reached once with a walk to lead the Jets offense.
