By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University's Payton McHarg slugged a grand slam in the second inning to give the Ichabods a 4-0 lead and WU didn't look back, taking a relocated Game 1 over Northeastern State, 13-7, in Broken Arrow, Okla.
Junior Payton McHarg had two home runs, including a grand slam, with six RBI in Friday's 13-7 Washburn win over Northeastern State. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods will play Game 2 in the same spot at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
In the top of the first inning Washburn (27-19 overall, 19-12 in the MIAA) threatened, but left two on base.
WU starting pitcher Caden Bressler sat Northeastern State down in order in the bottom of the opening inning and in the second the bases were loaded for the Ichabods after Blake Scott singled, Jett Buck was was hit by a pitch and Grant Jones worked a walk.
That set the stage for McHarg, who broke the game open with his second grand slam of the season.
Washburn got another run across in the top of the third after back-to-back singles from Connor and Blake Scott.
Buck was hit again to load the bases and Jones hit an RBI groundout to make it 5-0.
The RIverHawks got on the board in the third with a single and three straight walks, followed by a hit batter to score two runs. An RBI groundout brought around another run for a three-run inning.
The Ichabods made it three straight innings in the fourth, scoring with Connor Scott picking up an RBI pop out, scoring McHarg, who led off with a walk.
A double followed by an error resulted in a run for the RiverHawks in the home half of the inning.
With two outs in the fifth inning Cal Watkins walked and then McHarg took an 0-2 pitch over the wall for his second home run to make it an 8-4 game.
In the sixth inning Northeastern State was able to cut into its deficit with a pair of solo home runs, making it an 8-6 game.
A hit batter and walk put two on base for Washburn in the seventh. Cale Savage reached on an error and Watkins was able to score.
Cash Jay doubled to bring home one run and Hayden Priest did the same, trading place with Jay to cap off a three-run inning.
Same Wragge delivered a scoreless seventh inning and Seaman product Gavin Wilhelm held the RiverHawks scoreless in the eighth to keep the score at 11-7 going to the ninth.
Jay and Connor Scott were both hit by pitches to begin the ninth. Blake Scott walked, loading the bases with one out, and Buck singled up the middle to add insurance with the two-run hit.
Northeastern State scored one on a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth but never got any closer and Washburn was able to take the victory, climbing to a season-high eight games over .500.
The Ichabods tallied 14 hits in the game with three each from Jay and McHarg, who drove in six runs with his two home runs.
Six pitchers took the mound for Washburn. Hatch threw 3.1 innings, striking out one with two earned runs to earn the win.
