By KYLE MANTHE
The Washburn Review
Even after scoring only six combined runs Washburn softball’s undefeated home record still stands, now at 24-0, after a doubleheader sweep over Northeastern State University on Sunday with scores of 3-0 and 3-2.
“Pitching and defense is so important for games like that and I thought we were really good in those two areas today,” said Washburn coach Brenda Holaday said. “It’s just about kids battling at the plate and I think we battled … we did enough to win.”
Sophomore Jaycee Ginter picked up the pitching wins in both games, including a one-hitter in Game 1, as Washburn stretched its winning streak to 18 games on Sunday. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Wahburn Review]
Washburn softball honored seniors Maddie Stipsits (left), Ashton Friend (middle) and Raegen Hamm (right) on Senior Day Sunday at Gahnstrom Field. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]
The 38-11 Ichabods extended their winning streak to 18 games, a new high mark in Holaday’s six years, surpassing a 17-game run earlier in the season.
Between games, the team recognized its group of three seniors, Raegan Hamm, Maddie Stipsits and Ashton Friend.
“They go about it in a quiet way … their work ethic is great. They just have a way of just creating such a positive and good culture with our kids, and the others follow,” Holaday said. “To be honest, I don’t know that I would single any one of them out as a great leader but collectively, man have they done a good job.”
Hamm will finish as Washburn’s all-time strikeout leader while the two position players have combined to make 78 starts this season.
In a season of spectacular performances, sophomore Shawnee Heights product Jaycee Ginter was as sharp as ever, throwing a complete-game shutout and allowing only one hit and one walk in Game 1.
“The great part about her is she comes out and sets the tone for the day, so it’s not just about her quality pitching and attacking really good lineups,” Holaday said. “She instills confidence in all of us … it was huge.”
Season-long success from Ginter and Sante Fe Trail product Marrit Mead, who scored the walk-off run in game two, have propelled Washburn to No. 7 in the latest NCAA Central Regional rankings and a tie at the top of the MIAA standings.
Washburn will get a chance to improve its regional and national standings in its two final home games against No. 8 Rogers State on Monday.
“(Monday) is a big day for us, battling for first in the conference obviously, so we are going to have to come prepared as they are going to be,” Ginter said.
“We know we have to do a lot of what we did today,” Holaday said. “We are going to see great pitching on their end. It’s going to be up to us to step up.”
Ginter started her day in the circle with two hitless innings, setting up the offense.
In the second, Jaden LaBarge doubled and was brought home on a single from Kimi Patterson to put the Ichabods on the board.
Through four innings Ginter was still working a no-hitter to go along with five strikeouts. Patterson put another run on the board in the fourth inning, scoring Friend with a ground-rule double.
Hadley Kerschen grounded to second base to score LaBarge, putting Washburn up, 3-0.
That was all the scoring in the game as the Ichabods managed only two more hits the rest of the way. On the other end, Ginter kept Northeastern State hitless until there was one out in the seventh inning.
She finished the game striking out eight batters and allowing just one hit and one walk over seven innings of work to earn win number 24.
“I didn’t feel any pressure,” Ginter said. “I felt pretty confident going into the game and I knew that we needed it.”
Hamm took over in the circle for Game 2 and threw a scoreless first two innings while allowing just one hit.
At the plate, Patterson led off the bottom of the second with a single and was moved to third on an error. Kaylee Wagner grounded out to second base, scoring Patterson.
Kerschen, who reached via error, was able to score on a wild pitch, putting Washburn up 2-0 after two innings of play.
The RiverHawks loaded the bases in the third but could not score, but would in the fourth after back-to-back doubles led off the inning.
Hamm exited after four innings pitched, allowing just the one run and striking out four, leaving the score still at 2-1.
Ginter took over pitching responsibilities next, throwing scoreless frames in the fifth and sixth. She surrendered a single and double in the top of the seventh before a sacrifice fly tied the game at two.
In extra innings, Ginter retired the Northeastern State in order. Mead led off the bottom of the eighth with a single. Ellington Hogle pinch-hit for an infield single and a walk from Ginter loaded the bases.
“My thinking was, if Marrit got on we would bring Ellie in to bunt because she is the best bunter we have on the team,” Holaday said. “For a freshman who doesn’t get to be on the field a lot to stay ready and come in for a big pressure moment and do that was huge for her.”
Friend struck out swinging but the wild pitch went to the backstop, allowing Mead to score and walk off with a 3-2 win.
Washburn’s MIAA record sits at 20-2 after the sweep. The doubleheader with the Hillcats begins at 3 p.m. Monday.
First game
WASHBURN 3, NORTHEASTERN STATE 0
Northeastern State (23-21) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 1 0
Washburn (37-11) 0 1 0 2 0 0 X – 3 7 0
WP – Ginter (24-3). LP – Young (9-9). 2B – Washburn: LaBarge, Patterson.
Second game
WASHBURN 3, NORTHEASTERN STATE 2
Washburn (38-11) 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 – 3 6 0
Northeastern State (23-22) 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 – 2 8 3
WP – Ginter (25-3). LP – Evans (8-10). 2B – Northeastern State: Bradshaw, Wolfe, Rosenquist.
