By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Senior pitcher Sadie Walker helped Washburn softball close out a perfect 5-0 weekend with a 6-0 Sunday win over Southeastern Oklahoma. [File photo/TSN]Washburn's offense erupted in the second inning, transforming a scoreless contest into a commanding lead for the 13-2 Ichabods.
The inning began with Erin Boles singling to left, followed by a walk to Maddie McGee. Makenzie Sais worked another walk to load the bases with none out.
That set the stage for freshman Taylor Brees, a former Shawnee Heights standout, slashing a two-run double, bringing home McGee and Boles while advancing Sais to third.
Moments later, after a strikeout, Madi Moore continued the barrage with a two-run double of her own, scoring both Brees and Sais to stretch the lead to 4-0.
With two outs, Seaman product Aspen Burgardt delivered the biggest swing of the inning -- a towering two-run home run that brought home Moore and capped the six-run outburst. The Ichabods totaled four hits, drew three walks, and sent 10 hitters to the plate in the inning.
Sais singled again in the sixth inning, later stealing both second and third base -- giving her four stolen bases in the game after swiping two in the first inning.
Sunday's win followed a pair of Washburn win on Saturday -- a 7-3 win over Harding and a 3-1 win over Southwestern Oklahoma.
Washburn used a fast start and a strong outing from Walker to secure the win over Harding.
Washburn jumped in front immediately when Sais singled, stole two bases, and scored on a wild pitch.
Later in the opening frame, Danielle Schlader punched a two-run single into left center to score Moore and Boles, giving the Ichabods a 3-0 lead.
In the third inning, Burgardt launched a solo home run, pushing the WU advantage to 4-0.
Washburn then loaded the bases and took full control as Dalaney Anderson drew a bases-loaded walk, followed by a two-run single from Moore, that combined with a Harding error, allowed two more runs to score and extended the lead to 7-0.
Walker throwing six innings, giving up just one run on seven hits with four strikeouts and one walk. She kept Harding off the scoreboard until the fifth inning until Jenna Sprague came on to pitch the seventh, allowing two runs.
Burgardt led the offense with a three-hit performance that included a home run and a double. Moore drove in two runs and scored twice, while Schlader added two RBI of her own.
Sais had a two-hit day, two runs scored, and three stolen bases. Katie Ediger also produced a multi-hit game with a single and a double.
Earlier on Saturday Washburn softball used timely hitting and a dominant complete-game pitching performance from Kierra Goos to defeat Southwestern Oklahoma State, 3-1.
Goos held the Bulldogs to three hits while striking out seven and walking four, improving to 5–1 on the season as she faced just 29 batters.
The Ichabods jumped ahead in the second inning as Boles drew a walk to start the rally and Ediger followed with a run-scoring double to left to put Washburn on the board.
Ediger then stole third and scored on an errant throw by the catcher, pushing the lead to 2–0.
Washburn added another run in the fourth. After McGee doubled and Sais was hit by a pitch, Brees worked a bases-loaded walk to bring home Ediger and extend the lead to the final margin.
Ediger led the offense, going 2 for 3 with two runs, an RBI, a double and a stolen base. McGee also added a double.
Washburn opened the weekend on Friday with two shutouts, topping No. 24-ranked Oklahoma Baptist 2-0 and blanking East Central 8-0 in six innings.
Washburn combined shutdown pitching, clean defense and one key extra-base hit to the win over No. 24-ranked OBU.
The matchup developed into a pitcher's duel early, with both teams trading quick innings through the first three frames.
Washburn put a runner on in both the first and second but could not advance them past second, while Oklahoma Baptist managed just two early singles as Walker struck out four of the first nine batters she faced.
The Ichabods broke through in the fourth inning as Anderson sparked the inning with a leadoff walk. Then, with two outs, Moore lined a single extending the inning.
With runners at first and second, Schlader recorded a double into the gap, clearing the bases as Anderson and Moore raced home for the only runs of the game.
Walker completed the seven-inning shutout allowing only four hits with seven strikeouts and no walks, facing just 25 batter.
Moore went 2 for 3 with a run scored, while Schlader finished 1 for3 with the decisive two-run double and Sais and Brees both added a hit as Washburn totaled six on the day.
Later on Friday Washburn erupted for runs in four different innings and paired an 11-hit attack with a combined pitching shutout in an 8-0 win over East Central.
Washburn wasted little time setting the tone as Sais opened the game with a single, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout before Anderson brought her home with an RBI groundout.
The Ichabod lead grew in the fourth when Moore doubled to start the inning and came around to score on an RBI double from Boles.
After a productive out moved Boles to third, Ediger lifted a sacrifice fly to right to make it 3-0.
Washburn broke the game open in the fifth with three more runs.
Sais singled again and stole second before Brees ripped an RBI double.
Anderson followed with a double of her own to keep the rally going, and two more runs crossed on consecutive productive outs as the Ichabods stretched the margin to 6-0.
In the sixth, Ediger doubled and Sais singled to put two aboard, and Anderson delivered a two-run single to center, capping a three-hit inning and pushing the advantage to eight.
Sais finished the day 3 for 4 with three runs scored and three stolen bases.
Anderson matched her with a 3-for-4 performance, driving in three runs and scoring once, while Brees, Boles, Moore and Ediger each contributed extra-base hits as part of the 11-hit output.
Goos earned the pitching win after throwing five scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out three. Sprague closed the door with a clean final inning, striking out one as the Ichabods completed the shutout.
