By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn put up back-to-back five-runs innings and Seaman product Gavin Wilhelm notched his first career pitching win as the Ichabods took an 11-9 Senior Day decision over No. 21-ranked Central Oklahoma Sunday at Falley Field.
Washburn baseball honored its 12 seniors prior to Sunday's 11-9 MIAA win over No. 21 Central Oklahoma. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Before Sunday's first pitch was thrown, Washburn (24-19 overall, 18-12 MIAA) recognized its 12 seniors -- Teagan Tamiya, Trey Adams, Cal Watkins, Cole Warner, Jake Schroeder, Shane Morrow, Cale Savage, Otto Jones, Seger Holman, Ike Book, Jayden Payne and Charlie Kiefer.
The first two innings of the game were scoreless for both teams before the Bronchos (34-11, 20-10) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third on a wild pitch.
In the home half of the third Savage led off the inning with a home run to left field to tie the game.
Walks to Payton McHarg and Jett Buck and a single from Hayden Priest loaded the bases before Connor Scott singled in two runs and Grant Jones singled in another run. With two outs Watkins singled to score Scott to complete the five-run inning
One inning later Buck hit a three-run homer and WU scored a run on a bases-loaded walk and Savage plated a run with a sacrifice fly to make it back-to-back five-run innings for Washburn.
The next half inning the Central Oklahoma led off with a hit batter and two walks to load the bases. An RBI grounder scored one run and the next batter walked to re-load the bases. Two straight singles scored three runs to make it a 10-5 game and with two outs the Bronchos hit a three-run homer to right field to pull within two 10-8 with the seven-run fifth.
Gavin Wilhelm
Wilhelm came on to pitch with two outs in the top of the fifth and turned in a sterling relief effort, pitching the final 4.1 innings while allowing just one unearned run and striking out seven.
Wilhelm struck out the side in both the sixth and seventh innings en route to picking up his first win after joining the Ichabods this spring.
Watkins scored WU's final run on a solo shot to right-center to lead off the bottom of the seventh.
Central Oklahoma was able to score its last run in the eighth after a leadoff walk, single and a throwing error.
In the ninth they went three-up three-down as Wilhelm was able to finish off the game.
The Ichabods 13 hits in the game, led by three-hit games from Priest and Scott while Buck, Savage and Watkins all hit home runs, with Buck and Watkins driving in three runs.
The Ichabods are back in action against Emporia State Tuesday in a non-conference game at Falley Field.
