By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University baseball used a pair of big innings to down No. 2-ranked Central Missouri 14-7 on Wednesday night.
Jett Buck hit two home runs and drove in four runs in Washburn's 14-7 win over No. 2-ranked Central Missouri. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods hit the road to face Emporia State for three games beginning Friday at 5 p.m.
Neither Central Missouri or Washburn got on the board in a scoreless first inning, but it was the Mules (25-9 overall, 16-6 MIAA) that struck first in the second, with a home run following a two-out walk to make it 2-0.
Washburn (19-19, 12-13) responded right away as Jett Buck led off the home half of the second with a home run to left.
An error in the field and a hit batter extended the inning, allowing Blake Scott to plate one run with a single to left before Jackson Mervosh hit the second Ichabod home run over the wall in left field to make it 5-2 after two.
A leadoff walk for the Mules in the top of the third came around to score on a double. Central Missouri pulled within one as a wild pitch plated another run.
After a scoreless top of the fourth by Griffin Huiatt the Ichabods loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning on a single from B. Scott, a double from Connor Scott and a walk by Mervosh.
Hayden Priest brought one run in with a fielder's choice grounder to go up 6-4.
In the sixth inning, three walks along with a double scored a pair of runs for the Mules, tying the game.
Washburn answered right away, with five of the first six hitters all reaching base, scoring two runs on doubles from Priest and C. Scott. One run scored on a wild pitch before Buck blasted his second home run of the game, breaking the game open with a 12-6 lead.
The Mules got one run the next time up, with a leadoff batter reaching on an error and scoring on a sacrifice fly.
Kai Bennett finished his outing in the seventh, only allowing the one unearned run to score. Ethan Alexander pitched the eighth, throwing a 1-2-3 inning.
In the bottom half of the inning Payton McHarg took the first pitch he saw over the wall in right center.
Owen Laessig hit a one-out double down the left field line and was brought home on a two-out single into center by C. Scott to double up the Mules, 14-7.
Alexander remained on the mound in the ninth and took care of business, keeping the score the same to complete the win.
Washburn out-hit Central Missouri 14-7, while the Mules did have 10 walks to just four for the Ichabods along with a 3-1 advantage in errors committed.
Four players took the mound, combining for four strikeouts with three coming from Huiatt, who threw three innings.
Bennett moved to 3-2 on the year, earning the win after throwing 1.1 innings.
Three players went yard for the Ichabods, led by two blasts from Buck, who drove in a team-high four runs.
McHarg and Mervosh each hit one out, while C. Scott while led all hitters with three hits in the contest.
WU men's tennis tops Hornets, 6-1
No. 7-ranked Washburn men's tennis rolled to a second straight ranked victory on Wednesday, taking down No. 40 Emporia State 6-1 at WU.
The Ichabods are back in action next on Sunday, facing Southeastern Oklahoma State at 10 a.m.
Doubles play began on court two with Tommy Cecchetti and Vasek Schneider working a 6-2 win. Matthew Earle and Tim Hammes followed just behind, cruising to a 6-1 win over No. 45 Aleix Mattenberger and Gwendal Mazuay to clinch the point. Tommy Cecchetti and Vasek Schneider followed just behind with a 6-2 win at No. 2 to clinch the point. Zino Nahirniak and Moritz Pieper made it a double sweep for Washburn (13-3, 3-0 MIAA/GAC), winning 6-3 on court three.
Tommy Cecchetti led off singles play, working quickly for a 6-4 win in the first set at No. 4 and carrying the momentum into a 6-2 win in the second. Pavlos Parson played a quick three-set match at No. 3, winning 6-1 in the first before falling 6-4 in the second. He bounced back with a quick 6-1 win in the third to add another point. The Hornets (9-5, 1-2 MIAA/GAC) got on the board as Matthew Earle fell in two sets from No. 6, 6-3, 6-4.
Zino Nahirniak got out to an early lead in both sets and didn't let up, winning 6-3 in the first and 6-2 in the second at No. 5 to clinch the match. After splitting the first two sets 6-2 one going each way, Vasek Schneider came out on top of a third 6-2 set at No. 2. Tim Hammes won 6-4 in the first before falling 6-3 in the second set at the top court. He bounced back to knock off No. 17 Anton Sarunic 6-2 in the third set to finish out the match.
