After a sweep of the doubleheader against Newman University the day before the Washburn University Softball team was set for its fifth and sixth game in three days. An afternoon doubleheader against Lincoln University of Missouri awaited the Ichabods. With two wins the day before Washburn moved to 21-6 on the season before the day began.

After a scoreless first inning in the circle from junior pitcher Raegen Hamm, Washburn got started quickly on offense. They collected five hits in the first inning, starting with a single by freshman third baseman Marrit Mead who was brought home on a home run by junior designated player Ashton Friend that cleared the fence in right-center field. The hit gave Friend her fifth home run on the season and put the Ichabods up 2-0.

Junior catcher Bri Francis followed that hit up with a double off the center-field wall and was promptly brought home on a single by freshman first baseman Kamryn Garvie. The next inning Washburn added another run that came off of a single deep on the left side of the infield from Friend, scoring senior center fielder Brianna Fuchs who led off the inning with a single. After the early offense, the Ichabods would command a 4-0 lead over the Blue Tigers.

“It’s a team sport you have to play for your team, and obviously at times that I was up I was fortunate enough to come through for my team,” said Friend “But it’s props to the other girls for getting into scoring position.”

After three scoreless innings, Hamm found herself in trouble at the top of the fourth inning, facing a bases-loaded situation with one out. Hamm responded by getting a soft ground ball to third base that was sent home to Francis by Mead for the force out. After striking out the following hitter on three pitches to get out of the inning.

Washburn threatened to score in the bottom of the inning, with another hit from Mead followed by two walks all coming with two outs but were unable to put any extra runs on the board. In the top of the fifth inning freshman pitcher Ashlie Thissen came on in relief of Hamm and walked the first two hitters she faced, putting two on base for a single to be sent into left field, scoring the first run of the game for Lincoln University of Missouri.

After a strikeout and groundout to reach two outs in the inning a hard line drive single was hit up the middle. One run scored on the hit but a second was tagged out at home on a precise throw by Fuchs in center field down the Francis at the plate.

After the up and down first inning of action, Thissen responded well in the sixth inning, needing only seven pitches to finish the inning. In the bottom of the inning the bases were loaded for freshman left fielder Jaycee Ginter and she doubled the Ichabods scoring output in one swing, sending a ball over the fence in deep center field for a grand slam, making it an 8-2 game.

“Before Jaycee ever got here she had proven herself to be a big-time player in big-time situations and I just felt like that was a big-time situation,” said Washburn Head Coach Brenda Holaday.

The next batter, Kamryn Garvie, was walked and freshman infielder Autymn Schreiner replaced her as a pinch-runner before advancing to second base on a wild pitch. Freshman infielder Jenna Moore entered the game as a pinch hitter and made the most of her at-bat, scoring Schreiner from second base giving Washburn a seven-run lead.

Thissen ran into a little bit of trouble in the seventh inning, giving up two hits before a run was scored on a fielder’s choice that went right back to Thissen, who made the safe play trading a run for an out. The final two outs came much easier as the game would come to a close with a 9-3 win for the Ichabods.

The win made three in a row for Washburn who would have the chance to make it four and pick up a series sweep in the second game of the doubleheader that afternoon.

Edited by: Crystal Hendrix, Katrina Johnson