By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn softball rolled to a doubleheader sweep at Emporia State on Saturday, and coupled with Central Oklahoma's loss to Pittsburg State, the Ichabods clinched their third MIAA regular- season championship and second since 2018 under coach Brenda Holaday while winning their 22nd game in a row.
With Saturday's 5-1, 13-3 sweep, Washburn finished off the regular season 42-11 and 24-2 in the MIAA and will be the No. 1 seed in the postseason tournament next weekend in Edmond, Okla.
Washburn softball swept Emporia State Saturday to wrap up the MIAA regular-season championship. [Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods started the first game with three runs in the top of the first after Marrit Mead drew a walk and then, after a single by Paige Robibins and a walk by Jaycee Ginter, Ashton Friend grounded out, scoring Mead. Hadley Herschen's two-out single scored both Robbins and Ginter as Washburn went up,3-0.
The Hornets came back with a run of their own in the bottom of the first cutting the lead to 3-1.
After scoreless at bats in the second and third for the Ichabods, Kerschen led off the fourth with a walk and Autymn Schreiner singled to right, moving Kerschen to second. Kaylee Wagner came in as a pinch-hitter and her sacrifice fly scored Kerschen and then Mead's single up the middle scored Schreiner as the Ichabods went up 5-1 to wrap up the scoring.
Ginter moved to 27-3, scattering six hits and allowing an earned run while striking out five.
Friend and Schreiner each had two hits and Kerschen drove in two runs.
The Ichabods scored nine runs in the first three innings in Game 2, cruising to the 13-3 win.
Mead started off the game with a homer and then, after Friend walked, Jaden LaBarge doubled to left, scoring Friend as the Ichabods went up, 2-0.
In the second, Washburn scored a pair of runs with two outs when Mead doubled, scoring Stipsits who walked, as the Ichabods went up, 4-0.
The Ichabods added to their lead in the third when LaBarge hit a homer to center and then after singles from Kerschen and Schreiner and a walk from Stipsits loading the bases, Mead singled through the left side, scoring Schreiner and Kerschen. After Robbins' single and Ginter came up and singled to left scoring both Mead and Stipsits as the Ichabods pushed their lead to 9-0.
The Hornets added two runs in the bottom of the fourth cutting the lead to 9-2.
In the sixth, Washburn added four more runs when Stipsits cleared the bases with a triple, scoring Schreiner, Kerschen and Moore after all three singled. Mead then drove in her career-best fifth RBI of the game scoring Stipsits with a single as Washburn went up, 13-3.
ESU scored a run in the bottom of the sixth making the final margin 10 for the 13-3 run-rule win.
Mead finished 3 for 5 with her 5 RBI and scored three runs and LaBarge also had three hits driving in two. Stipsits also scored three runs.
Ginter picked up her second win of the day as she finished the regular season with a 28-3 record.
