By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University softball is back home Friday to host No. 5-ranked Central Oklahoma in a 4 p.m. doubleheader.
Following the twinbill with the Bronchos, the Ichabods will wrap up the regular season against Emporia State on April 26, with WU celebrating Senior Day.
Senior first baseman Jaden LaBarge leads Washburn softball with seven home runs and a .533 slugging percentage. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods (29-18 overall, 11-9 MIAA) split a pair of doubleheaders last weekend at Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri.
Washburn has already assured itself of an eighth straight winning season and senior first baseman Jaden LaBarge said the goal now is for the Ichabods to do everything they can to put themselves in position to make an extended postseason run.
"As long as our defense stays really focused and hitters can just keep swinging the bat and not swing at pitches outside of their zones I think that we have a really great chance of making it farther than we are expected to,'' LaBarge said.
LaBarge leads the Ichabods with seven home runs and a .533 slugging percentage.
The Bronchos are 40-7 and 17-3, splitting a road MIAA doubleheader with Central Missouri on Thursday.
The Ichabods are ninth in the nation in doubles with nine, which also leads the MIAA. Washburn is also 16th in the nation in walks and 18th in shutouts.
WU junior Sadie Walker is seventh in the nation in games started (25), ninth in appearances (34) and 32nd in shutouts (4) while also ranking 44th in strikeouts (128). Jenna Sprague is fifth in the nation with five saves.
Erin Boles and Makenzie Sais lead the Ichabods with 13 multiple-hit games and Kaylee Wagner leads the team with 13 multi-RBI games.
Ellington Hogle has reached base in each of the last 13 games and Boles has reached base safely in the last 10 games.
Sais leads the Ichabods in MIAA play with a .357 batting average.
The Bronchos have won the last 10 meetings in the Washburn series. Washburn's last win was on April 20, 2019 in a 5-1 victory in Edmond.
Washburn returns home for the final time this season on April 26 against Emporia State and will honor the seniors between games of the doubleheader.
