By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn Ichabod softball team wrapped up a 4-1 weekend at the Lone Star Classic in Mansfield, Texas with a pair of run-rule wins on Sunday, 11-3 over Lubbock Christian and 10-2 over Texas A&M-Kingsville, both in five innings.
Senior Sadie Walker turned in a pair of strong relief performances Sunday as Washburn softball capped a 4-1 season-opening weekend. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods are scheduled to be in action next weekend at the Alvy Early Memorial Tournament in Bentonville, Ark.
Washburn exploded for a nine-run third inning and never looked back, powering past Lubbock Christian 11-3 in five innings Saturday morning.
The Ichabods pounded out 12 hits, capitalized on defensive miscues and got a steady effort in the circle to improve to 3-1 on the season.
Washburn struck first in the opening frame when Makenzie Sais singled, stole second and eventually scored as Dalaney Anderson reached on an error, giving the Ichabods a 1-0 lead.
Lubbock Christian answered in the third on an RBI triple from Alexis Clark and an RBI single by Ava Castillo to briefly move in front 2-1.
But the lead lasted only moments as Anderson tied the game with a solo home run to left-center to start the bottom half, igniting Washburn's decisive rally.
Maddie McGee delivered a two-run single up the middle, Sais added an RBI single and Erin Boles brought home another run on a fielder's choice. A wild pitch plated a run before Kate Ediger capped the outburst with a two-run single, pushing the margin to 10-2 by the end of the inning.
The Lady Chaps scratched across a run in the fifth on an RBI double from Brianna Chambers-Lee, but Washburn answered immediately. Anderson drew a walk and scored from first when Seaman product Aspen Burgardt ripped an RBI double to deep left, ending the game via run rule.
Anderson finished 2 for 3 with three RBI, a home run and three runs scored, while Sais went 3 for 4 with two runs and an RBI. Ediger added two hits and four RBI and McGee drove in two as part of the Ichabods' balanced attack.
Manhattan grad Kierra Goos earned the win for Washburn, allowing two runs on three hits with four strikeouts over four innings. Sadie Walker closed the final frame, striking out three while surrendering one run.
Washburn did not commit an error defensively and stole multiple bases.
Washburn erupted for eight runs in the fourth inning and rode a dominant relief outing from Walker to a 10-2 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville on Sunday afternoon.
The Ichabods collected 12 hits in the victory, improving to 4-1 on the season.
Texas A&M-Kingsville grabbed the early lead in the first when Victoria Vargas doubled and later scored on an RBI single up the middle from Alexis Soliz.
Washburn pulled even in the third after former Shawnee Heights standout Taylor Brees singled, moved around the bases, and scored on Anderson's RBI single through the left side.
The Javelinas went back in front 2-1 in the fourth on Kennia Chong's RBI double to left center, but that advantage didn't last long as Washburn exploded in the bottom half of the inning.
Danielle Schlader tied the game with an RBI single to shallow left and Brees put Washburn ahead for good with an RBI fielder's choice. Two defensive miscues by the Javelinas allowed three more runs to score, and the Ichabods kept rolling.
Madi Moore delivered a two-run double to left center and Ediger followed with an RBI single to finish off an eight-run frame that put Washburn up 10-2.
Walker was lights-out in relief, tossing four innings while allowing only two hits and one run and striking out seven. She retired 12 of the 16 batters she faced to earn the win.
Offensively, Ediger went 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, Anderson added two hits and an RBI and Brees scored three times while stealing two bases.
Texas A&M-Kingsville's offense was led by Chong, who went 2-for-2 with an RBI, and Soliz, who drove in a run in the first inning.
