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By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

One of the most frustrating stretches of Brenda Holaday's long and successfull coaching career continued Saturday at Gahnstrom Field, with Washburn University softball dropping a 6-0, 11-3 MIAA doubleheader to No. 7-ranked Pittsburg State.

Washburn sophomore Makenzie Sais went 3 for 3 in the second game Saturday against No. 7-ranked Pittsburg State. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Saturday's losses extended the Ichabods' losing streak to seven games, with all seven defeats coming against nationally-ranked teams.

But Holaday saw some signs Saturday that Washburn, 24-15 overall and 1-9 in the conference, could be ready to start turning things back around.

"That's what we just talked about,'' Holaday said. "We've been in this kind of rut for about three weeks now and just really having a hard time scoring the runs we need to when we get opportunities and making little mistakes. We were very competitive the first game (Friday, a 4-3 nine-inning loss to No. 11 Missouri Southern) and then when it got away from us we didn't bounce back well at all (in a 9-0 second-game loss).

"But I thought today, given how good Pitt State is, we were much more like ourselves. We were just a little over-matched and some things had to go our way at times that didn't, but we struck the ball batter and the kids had some good at-bats and that's where it starts for us and it's something to build on.''

The Ichabods managed five hits in the opener but were unable to push a run across in the 6-0 loss to the Gorillas, who ended the weekend 34-1 overall and 8-0 in the MIAA.

Washburn threatened early and late but could not find a breakthrough.

Junior Aspen Burgardt throws out a runner Saturday for WU against No. 7-ranked Pittsburg State. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Makenzie Sais led off the first inning with a bunt single, while former Seaman standout Aspen Burgardt ripped a double to right-center in the second.

The Ichabods put runners in scoring position again in the fifth inning when Erin Boles and Maddie McGee posted consecutive singles, but Pittsburg State worked out of the jam each time.

Washburn senior pitcher Sadie Walker went the distance in Saturday's 6-0 first-game loss against No. 7-ranked Pittsburg State. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Sadie Walker went the distance in the circle for Washburn, giving up 12 hits and six runs (five earned) while striking out six in seven innings of work.

Walker retired nine of 10 hitters from the fourth through sixth frames.

Pittsburg State opened the scoring in the first inning with an RBI single before putting the game out of reach with four runs in the third.

The Gorillas took advantage of a leadoff single, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch before delivering three straight run-scoring hits.

McGee, Burgardt, Boles, Shawnee Heights product Taylor Brees and Sais each recorded a hit for the Ichabods.

Washburn softball totaled eight hits and plated three runs in the second game but fell 11–3 to the Gorillas.

The Ichabods showed early fight at the plate and erased a shutout with a run in the third inning and two more in the fifth.

However, Pittsburg State used a series of big innings to pull away and remain unbeaten in conference play.

Sais went 3 for 3 with a run scored and a walk while Danielle Schlader added two hits and drove in a pair of Washburn runs on a two-run single in the fifth. Brees also crossed the plate in the inning.

Washburn broke through in the third when Burgardt reached on an error, allowing Sais to score and cut the Ichabod deficit to 3-1.

The Ichabods mounted their biggest rally in the fifth with two unearned runs, pulling within 8–3.

Jenna Sprague made the pitching start for Washburn and worked 4.2 innings before former Silver Lake standout Kendra Cook finished the game in relief.

Washburn will now hit the road, continuing MIAA play at Fort Hays State and Nebraska-Kearney next Friday and Saturday.

The Ichabods are now entering a stretch of games that will provide the team with an opportunity to get back on track, but Holaday knows WU will have to be at its best to make that happen.

"We probably couldn't have played a tougher opening to the MIAA than we have with five different ranked teams in five outings, but at the same time, some of these other teams have been able to build some confidence with some wins and they're tough, too,'' Holaday said.

"They're all good teams, so that's why it's important we build. We don't have a lot of room for error at this point so we've got to get ourselves back to playing the kind of ball we were playing a few weeks ago in order to give ourselves a chance to get back in the fight.''

RiverHawk baseball evens series with 9-8 comeback win

Washburn baseball battled back from an early deficit to take an 8-6 lead on Saturday at Steve Anson Stadium, but the Ichabods (11-19 overall, 8-10 MIAA) could not hold on late as Northeastern State scored two in the ninth to win 9-8 and even the series.

The series rubber match will begin at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

By TODD FERTIG

TopSports.news

The Hayden girls soccer team intends to make another run at a state title, a prize that was denied them in double overtime a season ago. The Wildcats took the first step in that long journey Friday by defeating Topeka foe Cair Paravel Latin 8-0 at the Bettis Family Sports Complex.

Senior Carsyn Broxterman (4) scored five goals in Hayden's 8-0 season-opening soccer win over Cair Paravel. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Hayden fell to Bishop Miege 2-1 on a golden goal corner kick in the second overtime of the Class 4-1A state championship last June. The returners carried the pain of that defeat with them for nine months, anxious to take another crack at it.

They got that chance Friday and made the most of it. The Wildcats won the right to begin the game with the powerful north wind at their backs on a coin flip. Senior Carsyn Broxterman wasted no time, tallying three goals in the first nine minutes of the contest.

Senior Reese Huscher (14) scored two goals in Friday's 8-0 season-opening Hayden soccer win over Cair Paravel. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Fellow senior Reese Huscher joined the act with two goals in the next nine minutes. Then sophomore Sawyer Wrench put one in the net and the Wildcats led 6-0 at the half.

“Working all through last year, (the championship) was our goal,” Broxterman said. “And then not getting exactly what we wanted but knowing we can get there really kind of helped push us this year to work harder and push ourselves farther than we ever thought we could.

“I think this was a really good start. It was nice seeing all of us work really hard out there and really push ourselves. I think we’re all really excited for the season.”

To make sure no one thought the wind was the reason Hayden dominated the first half, Broxterman knocked home two more goals in less than five minutes of the second half to end the game on a mercy rule with 36:34 still showing on the clock.

Playing with a big lead allowed Hayden coach Klaus Kreutzer to rotate players off the bench and see what they could do.

“We brought up two extra players and they got the opportunity to play. I think that’s worthwhile for them. I think it will motivate them in practice a little bit,” Kreutzer said. “I think offensively we looked for other players. I think we took care of opportunities when we had them and I think we finished well. I liked the effort. I liked the enthusiasm.”

Cair Paravel started the season shorthanded due to several starters missing school for an educational trip. The Lions had the misfortunate timing of starting the season with Bishop Miege – the defending state champs – and Hayden – the state runners up – in the same week. The Lions will try to build off those experiences now that they have their entire complement of players.

Kreutzer, meanwhile, had to deal with absences during the first few weeks as well. The Wildcat basketball team claimed the Class 4A state title less than two weeks ago.

“We haven’t had much in the way of practice since we had six starters who were still playing basketball,” the coach said. “The first week of soccer practice was over state. Then it’s spring break. And then we play (soccer). But it is what it is, and I think everybody else is in the same boat.

“But having said that, I think their work ethic has been pretty good. I like what I’ve seen.”

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