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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
For a second straight game Washburn University erased an early deficit with a three-run eighth inning, winning Game 2 over Fort Hays State 7-4 on Saturday to clinch the series win over the Tigers at Falley Field.
Washburn's Griffin Huiatt picked up the win in relief in Saturday's 7-4 MIAA decision over Fort Hays State. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods will go for the sweep on Sunday at 1 p.m. in the series finale.
Fort Hays State (21-19 overall, 9-17 MIAA) led off the game with a pair of first-inning singles, but a double play took one off the basepaths. A walk again put two runners on and a single up the middle scored one.
The Tigers then knocked a double into the right-field corner, scoring a run, but Washburn tagged out the second runner at the plate to end the inning.
The score stayed that way until the bottom of the third.
Connor Scott and Grant Jones earned walks with no outs.
Payton McHarg got Washburn (22-16, 16-10) on the board with a double into the corner in right field, scoring both runners to tie the game at two.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 23-ranked Washburn University softball wrapped up the home slate with a doubleheader sweep over Missouri Southern Saturday at Gahnstrom Field, winning 8-3 and 3-0.
Washburn seniors Sheyenne Creek, Hailey Neira, Marrit Mead, Jaycee Ginter and Autymn Schreiner were honored between games of Saturday's doubleheader sweep over Missouri Southern. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Washburn will now have a two week break from game action as they will not return to the field until April 27 when the Ichabods close out the regular season at Emporia State.
The MIAA Championships Tournament will start on Wednesday, May 1 in Edmond, Oklahoma hosted by Central Oklahoma.
The Lions took a 3-0 first-game lead through four and a half innings, but the Ichabods rallied with six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning while running through four Missouri Southern pitchers and sending a total of nine batters to the plate en route to the 6-3 lead.
Mariah Walker walked on four straight pitches to start the inning and then, after the first pitching change for the Lions, Autymn Shreiner drew a four-pitch walk.
After back-to-back wild pitches, with the second scoring Gracie Gallagher with the Ichabods' first run of the day, Madi Moore walked, sending another Lion pitcher to the circle.
Hailey Neira put down a punt that loaded the bases and then Erin Boles singled to moving the runners up 60 feet.
On the very next pitch, Marrit Mead singled in a run, forcing the third Lion pitcher of the inning to enter the game.
Alexis Tanguma then followed with a single to score Neira and then Jaycee Ginter singled in two runs, finishing the scoring in the inning.
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By CHARLES SPURLOCK
TopSports.news
In Friday’s Leitel Legacy Invitational meet hosted by Lawrence Free State, Seaman sophomore Ryin Miller broke two school records, just as she had the previous week in the Lansing Invitational.
Seaman sophomore Ryin Miller leads the girls 3,200 Friday at Free State en route to breaking her own school record. [Photo by Charles Spurlock/TSN]
In the girls 3,200-meter race, Miller broke her own school record by seven seconds in running a winning time of 10 minutes, 19.29 seconds. That time remains the fastest in the state this season and is the 24th fastest time in the United States.
In the 800 meter race, Miller’s time of 2:10.25 broke the school record set by Bethany Druse just two years ago at 2:15.19. Miller's time is also the fastest time in the state this season and the 17th fastest in the nation.
Ryin Miller runs away from the field in the girls 800 field at Free State Friday, breaking the Seaman school record. [Photo by Charles Spurlock/TSN]
Ryin Miller (left) poses for a picture with former Seaman teammate Bethany Druse after breaking Druse's school record in the 800 meters. [Photo by Charles Spurlock/TSN]
Other girls winners were senior Natalie Hillebert of Hayden in the long jump (16 feet, 0.5 inches) and senior Aubrey Simpson of Washburn Rural in the javelin (130-1), which is ranked 55th in the United States this season. Sophomore Morgan Ray of Washburn Rural finished second in the javelin (126-9).
Seaman senior Aaron Merritt (middle) wins the boys 100-meter dash Friday at Free State. [Photo by Charles Spurlock/TopSports.news]
Boys winners included senior Aaron Merritt of Seaman in the 100 meters (10.80), junior Jensen Schrickel of Hayden in the 400 meters (49.24), junior Peyton Holmes of Seaman in the long jump (21-10.5) and senior Jamond Lane of Washburn Rural in the discus (151-2).
LEITEL LEGACY INVITATIONAL
At Free State
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka West junior track and field returning state champ Alesecio Batson and Seaman sophomore multi-sport star Ryin Miller have been selected by the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency as the Rising Stars of the Week.
The Dan Key Agency will recognize top Shawnee County underclassmen throughout the bulk of the 2023-2024 school year.
Here’s a brief look at the accomplishments of Batson and Miller over the past week:
Topeka West junior Alesecio Batson won the triple jump in last week's Lansing Invitational, continuing his comeback from an injury. [File photo/TSN]
ALESECIO BATSON, Topeka West
A returning Class 5A state champion, Batson is steadily returning to form after battling back from a serious leg injury over the summer.
Batson won the boys triple jump in last Friday's Lansing Invitational, recording a season-best jump of 44 feet, 5 inches.
Batson won the state triple jump title in the 2023 state meet with a leap of 48 feet, 4.25 inches. An All-Shawnee County first-team pick, Batson was the county leader in the event last season with a season-best jump of 48-11.
Seaman sophomore Ryin Miller broke a pair of 38-year-old school records in last week's Lansing Invitational, winning three gold medals on the day. [File photo/TSN]
RYIN MILLER, Seaman
A four-sport athlete for the Vikings, Miller broke two 38-year-old school records in last Friday's Lansing Invitational track and field meet and also starred on the soccer pitch.
In the girls 1,600 meters, Miller's time of 4 minutes, 53.37 seconds broke the school record, previously held by Marge Eddy, by 11 seconds. In the 3,200, Miller ran a 10:26.54, which broke Eddy's school record by 33 seconds. Miller ran a 59-second split on the Vikings' winning 4x400-meter relay (4:15.21).
Miller also recorded two goals and an assist in a 6-0 Seaman soccer win over Topeka West last week.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University baseball will host MIAA foe Fort Hays State for three games this weekend, beginning on Friday at 5 p.m. in Little League Weekend at Falley Field.
Payton McHarg leads Washburn with 18 home runs and 47 RBI entering a weekend series against Fort Hays State at Falley Field. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Last time out the Ichabods won 12-7 over Northwest Missouri State on Tuesday afternoon at home to wrap up the season series with the Bearcats.
Washburn is now 20-16 overall on the year and 14-10 in the MIAA. The Ichabods are 10-5 at Falley Field, 9-11 on the road and 1-0 in neutral field games.
Fort Hays State enters the weekend with a 21-17 overall record and a 9-15 mark in the MIAA after falling 12-5 to Newman on the road on Tuesday afternoon.
Through 35 games Washburn is scoring 9.56 runs per game while allowing 7.69.
At the plate the Ichabods are hitting .328 with a .424 on base percentage and are slugging .592 as a team. They have 74 home runs and have drawn 185 walks.
