By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
As Game 2 of Saturday's Washburn softball doubleheader against Emporia State got into the later and eventually extra innings, Ichabod coach Brenda Holaday let sophomore Kaylee Wagner know that she might be called on as a pinch-hitter.
Washburn sophomore Kaylee Wagner gave the Ichabods a 3-1 second-game win over Emporia State with a ninth-inning walkoff two-run home run. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
And when that time came with two outs in the bottom of the ninth of a 1-1 game, Wagner came through with arguably the biggest hit of her career, a two-run walkoff home run to give Washburn a 3-1 win and a split of an MIAA twinbill which capped the regular season for both the Ichabods and Hornets.
"I was just thinking, look for a pitch I can drive and (Sydney Righi) gave me a pitch on the inner half and I went after it,'' Wagner said. "It's really exciting. I'm super happy and I'm happy for my team that we got that win.''
Wagner has struggled offensively off and on this spring, but Holaday said she had confidence in her.
"That's Kaylee's pitch, the pitches that that girl throws, and she was getting a little bit predictable I thought and I knew (Kaylee) was going to get a pitch inside,'' Holaday said. "I thought she had a chance to turn on it, if anybody did.
"She's got a lot of power and I just thought it was time to give her a chance.''
In the bottom of the ninth, the Ichabods (36-14 overall, 15-11 in the MIAA) began the inning with a single to left by Shawnee Heights prouct Jaycee Ginter, who was replaced for pinch-runner Allison Hemsath.
After Autumn Schreiner reached on a fielder's choice, Erin Boles entered as a pinch-hitter and lined out to center field for the second out before Wagner ended the game with her second home run of the season over the left-field fence on an 0-1 pitch.
The Hornets, who won the opener 4-2, took a 1-0 lead with a one-out single by Emma Furnish in the top of the fourth, but the Ichabods came back in the bottom of the inning to tie the score at 1-1 on a sac fly by Ginter, which drove in Silver Lake grad Ellington Hogle, who doubled to start the inning for the Ichabods.
The score stayed that way until the bottom of the ninth.
Freshman pitcher Sadie Walker pitched all nine innings to pick up the win, scattering five hits to improve to 8-4 on the season.
The Hornets (33-21, 13-13) scored in both the second and third innings of the first game, taking a 2-0 lead before Washburn got on the board in the fourth inning.
Paige Robbins led off the fourth with a single and Danielle Schlader followed with a single of her own. Schreiner singled to load the bases for Wagner, who drew a walk to score Robbins.
Marrit Mead then reached on a fielder's choice to left field as Schriener was called out at third but but Gracie Gallagher scored to tie the score at 2-2.
In the sixth, the Hornets added two runs to take a 4-2 lead and the Ichabods left a combined three runners on in the sixth and seventh as the Ichabods fell short.
Former Rossville star Gracie Rabe (14) receives congratulations from her Emporia State teammates after Saturday's 4-2 first-game pitching win over Washburn. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Former Rossville star Gracie Rabe went the distance to pick up the pitching win in the first game, improving to 14-8, while Ari Cordova had three RBI for the Hornets.
Cordova led off the second with a home run to give Emporia State a 1-0 lead.
In the third inning Shawnee Heights product Alexis Dial was hit by a pitch with one out.
Former Topeka High standout Roni Raines then laid down a perfect bunt in front of the plate and beat it out to put runners on first and second. Abbey Ward followed with a single to right to make it 2-0.
After Washburn tied the game in the fourth inning. Ward led off the top of the sixth with a walk for the Hornets and went to third on a double by Josie Harrison. Cordova then delivered a triple to right center to score both runners and give Emporia State its 4-2 lead.
Cordova went two for three with a homer, a triple, three RBI and a run scored.
Schlader had two of the Ichabods' eight hits in the game.
Ginter fell to 23-8 in the circle, striking out six and giving up six hits.
The MIAA Postseason Tournament will begin on Wednesday at Lake Shawnee. Brackets will be released by the MIAA office after the completion of games on Sunday.
