By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University softball had to deal with some pitching issues Monday in its Ichabod Invitational doubleheader.
Not only did Ichabod ace Sadie Walker struggle in the opener, but WU also lost its scheduled second-game starter, Alexis Tanguma, to a hamstring injury in the first game.
Junior Jenna Sprague picked up her first Washburn pitching win in Monday's 12-10 decision over Concoria-St. Paul. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN].
Freshman Ava Bloyd improved to 4-2 in Monday's 2-1 Washburn win over Minnesotra-Crookston. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But Ichabod newcomers Jenna Sprague and Ava Bloyd came through when it counted as WU pushed its winning streak to six games with a 12-10 win over Concordia-St. Paul and a 2-1 decision over Minnesota Crookston on the second day of the tournament.
"I don't think we played very well today, but we were gritty and you kind of build on that when you're heading into your season before conference play to teach yourself that you can come back when things aren't going well and you can find ways to win,'' Washburn coach Brenda Holaday said.
The Ichabods opened the second day of action with a wild one as the Ichabods and the Bearcats combined for 22 runs and 22 hits in a 12-10 win by the Ichabods.
CSP (1-7) scored two runs in its first bat to take the early lead, but the Ichabods came back with three runs in the bottom of the first, highlighted by a two-RBI double by Kaylee Wagner scored Erin Boles and Makenzie Sais.
Washburn stretched its lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the second when Jaden LaBarge started the frame with a double to center before a double by Boles scored LaBarge.
Another double by Sais scored Boles.
The Bears regained the lead at 6-5 with four runs in the third inning, capped with a bases-loaded triple from CSP, but WU came back to knot the score at 6-6 when a sac fly by LaBarge scored Kate Ediger, who reached on a single.
Again, CSP scored in its next at bat with two, two-run homers taking a 10-6 lead, but Washburn rallied to tie the score with four runs in the bottom of the fourth when Tanguma doubled, scoring Boles and Sais.
Ellington Hogle connected on a single up the middle that scored Tanguma after Ediger drove in another run on a fielder's choice as the score was tied at 10-10.
In the bottom of the sixth, Washburn took the lead after Ediger doubled to start the inning and then Mariah Wheeler's pinch-hit single scored Ashlyn Gaughan, who entered as a pinch runner.
LaBarge added a sac fly for Washburn's final run.
Sprague, a junior Kirkwood Community College transfer, picked up the pitching win, her first as an Ichabod, pitching the final 32/3 innings.
In the top of the seventh, Sprague retired the side in order to pick up the win in relief.
"I felt pretty good,'' Sprague said. "I've had a few outings that have been kind of rough and I kind of needed to prove to prove that I was better than what I've been doing.
"Once I stepped in I felt pretty locked in.''
Boles, Tanguma, Ediger and Hogle all had two hits for Washburn and Wagner, Tanguma, Ediger and LaBarge drove in two runs. Boles also scored three runs.
Washburn finished with seven doubles in the game, one off the school and MIAA record.
Opposite of the first game, runs were harder to come by in the second game as the Ichabods picked up the 2-1 win.
Washburn took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Dalaney Anderson singled to right driving in LaBarge, who started the inning with a walk.
The Ichabods added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth when Washburn took advantage of a Golden Eagle error as Ediger scored to put the Ichabods up 2-0.
UMC (5-9) cut the lead in half when with a bases-loaded walk, but left the bases full after a ground out.
Bloyd (4-2) tossed 52/3 innings while striking out three for the win, allowing one earned run.
Monday was a tale of two games for Bloyd, a Blue Valley product.
After giving up four run on three hits in just one third of an inning in the opener, Bloyd bounced back against Minnesota-Crookston.
"The second game I just really had a fire in myself to prove myself and bounce back for my team because I saw how hard they were working for me pitching, so I really wanted to show them that I can work hard for them, too,'' Bloyd said.
"After the first game actually coach asked who wanted to pitch and I put my hand up because I really wanted to go back out there again and fight.''
Walker picked up the save, allowing a leadoff single in the seventh, but picked up three outs for her first save of the season.
Seven different Ichabods all had one hit for Washburn.
Game 1
WASHBURN 12, CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL 10
Concordia St. Paul 204 400 0 -- 10 10 2
Washburn 321 402 x -- 12 12 0
Dunlavy, Carter (2), Bowne (4) and Dana. Walker, Bloyd (4), Sprague and Wagner. W -- Sprague (1-1). L -- Bowne (0-5). 2B -- Washburn: Boles 2, Sais, Wagner, Tanguma, Ediger, LaBarge. 3B -- Concordia-St. Paul: Blake, Rosenthal. HR -- Concordia-St. Paul: Monty, Pelzer.
Game 2
WASHBURN 2, MINNESOTA-CROOKSTON 1
Minnesota-Crookston 000 001 0 -- 1 6 1
Washburn 010 010 x -- 2 7 1
Guilford, Trzinski (4), Stuck (6) and French. Bloyd, Walker (6) and Wagner. W -- Bloyd (4-2). L -- Trzinski (0-2). 2B -- Minnesota-Crookston: French.
