By RICK PETERSON
Mark Hoffman pitched four-plus shutout innings in Saturday's 10-0 Washburn win over Arkansas-Fort Smith. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods now head on the road for four games, beginning Tuesday at Fort Hays State at 3 p.m.
After a scoreless first inning from Seaman product Gavin Wilhelm, Washburn (16-23 overall, 12-13 MIAA) got going offensively with two outs in the bottom of the first.
Jack Borgmann worked a walk and Levi Risenhoover slashed a single and advanced to second. Easton Wasinger slashed a single through the left side to score both runs and put the Ichabods up 2-0.
Arkansas-Fort Smith (4-35, 3-25) worked the bases loaded in the second inning but were kept off the board, with Risenhoover making a sliding catch in right field with two outs.
After escaping the jam Wilhem allowed one hit in the rest of his start.
The score stayed 2-0 into the fifth inning when Risenhoover took a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left field for a home run.
A hit batter and double by Jackson Mervosh put two more on, with a balk scoring another run in the three-run inning.
The Ichabods added to their in the sixth with a one-out double from Brooks Richardson, followed by a single from Ian Luce into center field to score him.
After Borgmann worked a walk Risenhoover slashed a triple into the gap in left center to score them both. Wasinger capped off the four-run inning and made it 9-0 with a double to left center.
After entering in the fourth inning Mark Hoffman continued to keep the Lions off the board and did not allow a hit until the eighth inning.
He left the bases loaded in the eighth to keep the shutout intact.
An error and fielder's choice put two runners on for Washburn in the eighth before Risenhoover was intentionally walked to load the bases. Wasinger was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game to score the game-winning run and end the game 10-0 after eight.
Washburn led 10-4 in hits while both teams worked five walks and three Ichabods reached base after being hit by pitches. The Lions also committed the only error of the game.
Wilhelm and Hoffman combined to go the distance on the mound with Wilhelm earning the win after throwing 3.2 scoreless innings and striking out two. Hoffman tossed 4.1 innings in relief with five strikeouts to earn the save.
At the plate Risenhoover finished a double shy of the cycle, going 3-4 with a home run and triple to drive in four runs and score three himself. Wasinger went 3-3 and reached base five times, driving in four runs.
