TOPEKA, Kan. — The Washburn Ichabods swept a doubleheader from the Northwest Missouri State University softball team Sunday at Gahnstrom Field.
The Ichabods tallied a narrow 2-0 win in game one and then posted a 6-3 triumph in game two.
Washburn is 33-18 overall and 10-12 in MIAA play. Northwest is 28-17 overall and 8-12 in league action. The Bearcats have lost four straight games.
GAME ONE
In the first matchup, Northwest fell to Washburn with a final score of 2–0. The Bearcats maintained a tied game through the first five innings but were unable to capitalize on their six hits, leaving nine runners on base. Both teams showcased strong defensive efforts, keeping the scoreboard quiet until the later stages.
The pivotal moment came in the sixth inning when Washburn broke the deadlock. Makenzie Sais tripled to left center and was driven in by a single from Kate Dolan. Aspen Burgardt's single to center field added another run, bringing the inning's tally to two runs for Washburn. The inning ended with Washburn leading 2–0.
Jadyn Streigle pitched a complete game for Northwest, going 6.0 innings and allowing two earned runs on six hits, striking out four batters while walking one. Despite throwing 94 pitches, with 59 being strikes, she was tagged with the loss, bringing her record to 14–6 for the season.
Mackenzie Mlnarik and
Omara Love each recorded two hits, with Love contributing a double.
GAME TWO
Washburn came out on top, 6-3. The Bearcats recorded eight hits, including two doubles and two triples, but could not overcome the Ichabods' offensive output.
Northwest opened the scoring in the first inning when
Mackenzie Mlnarik singled and advanced to third on a hit by
Timber Wilson. Mlnarik then scored on a throwing error by the left fielder, giving the Bearcats a 1–0 lead. Washburn was retired in order in its half of the first, leaving the score at 1–0.
The Ichabods took control in the third inning, scoring three runs highlighted by Maddie McGee's double and Dalaney Anderson's subsequent two-RBI double. The score shifted to 3–1 in favor of Washburn after three innings.
Northwest responded in the fifth with
Alexis Brown's triple, which led to a run scored by
Emma Hague's sacrifice fly. However, Washburn countered with three runs in the bottom of the inning, including another two-RBI double from Anderson, extending their lead to 6–2.
In the seventh, Brown tripled again and scored on a single by Hague, but it wasn't enough to change the outcome, and the game concluded with Washburn winning 6–3.
Rien Moore pitched a complete game for the Bearcats, allowing six earned runs on six hits, striking out five and walking four. She recorded the loss, bringing her season record to 10-6.
Emma Hague drove in two runs and contributed a hit, while
Omara Love collected two hits, including another double.
Alexis Brown had a standout performance, scoring twice and tallying two triples.
The Bearcats conclude the doubleheader with a record of 28-17 and stand at 8-12 in the MIAA conference. The Ichabods improve their record to 33-18 with a 10-12 mark in the MIAA conference.
In their next game, Northwest Missouri State will travel to face Augustana on Tuesday, April 21, at noon CT in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
