By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Very little has come easy for Washburn University baseball thus far in 2026 and that trend continued Wednesday at Steve Anson Stadium.
But after visiting Fort Hays State rallied from a 4-1 deficit to force extra innings and took a one-run lead in the top of the 10th, the Ichabods came through with two runs in the bottom of the inning to earn a much-needed 6-5 MIAA win over the Tigers and snap a five-game losing streak.
Chase Littrell is mobbed by his Washburn teammates after delivering a walkoff double in Wednesday's 6-5 10-inning win over Fort Hays State. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Washburn, which has been plagued by close losses in the early going this season, improved to 9-15 overall and 6-6 in the conference while Fort Hays State fell to 9-15, 6-8.
"We haven't had one of those in awhile,'' Washburn coach Harley Douglas said. "We had talked about the adversity the whole time and we had lost eight games where it was either one or two-run ballgames and five of them being one-run games.
"You're just like, man, one of these times we've got to come through when it's time and you want to face the adversity and want to take the moment, don't let it define who you are You need to go get it and I thought our guys did a pretty good job of that today.''
Fort Hays State took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third after the Tigers took advantage of a double, a hit batter and a Washburn error to score an unearned run.
Levi Risenhoover went 3 for 5 with a home run, a double and three RBI in Washburn's 6-5 win over Fort Hays State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But left-fielder Ian Luce doubled for Washburn with two outs in the bottom of the third and right-fielder Levi Risenhoover followed with a home run that cleared the trees in left field, putting the Ichabods up, 2-1.
Ichabod shortstop Jackson Mervosh led off the fourth inning with a double, moved to third on a balk and scored on a sacrifice fly by center-fielder Chase Littrell to put Washburn up 3-1.
Washburn took a 4-1 advantage in the fifth, beginning with a leadoff walk from third baseman Trenton Barry. Luce and Risenhoover both followed with singles to produce the Ichabod run.
Washburn starter Mark Hoffman pitched 5 and 1/3 innings without allowing an unearned run in Wednesday's 6-5 10-inning win over Fort Hays State. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Ichabod left-hander Mark Hoffman started and pitched 5 and 1/3 innings, allowing just one unearned run with two strikeouts.
The score remained 4-1 into the seventh inning before Antonio Avila hit a two-run homer to pull Fort Hays State pull within one and the Tigers tied the game with a two-out single.
Griffin Huiatt, the fourth of five pitchers used by Washburn, came on in the top of the eighth and tossed a scoreless inning.
Washburn loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth but was unable to push the go-ahead run across.
Ichabod reliever Fidel Hatch pitched a scoreless ninth before Fort Hays state took advantage of a Washburn error to go up 5-4 in the top of the 10th.
A Tiger error with one out put the Ichabods in business in the bottom of the 10th and first baseman Jack Borgmann followed with a triple into the right-field corner that tied the game.
Littrell then blasted a ball to deep center that served as a walkoff ground-rule double to win the game.
"We hope this sparks us,'' Littrell said. "It feels really good. We had a team talk a couple of days ago and we talked about these moments and kind of coming together as a team and finding a way to win these games.
"It's these close games that we know we've got to win and today was just bonding together and finding a way.''
The final at-bat of the game gave Washburn a 9-8 advantage in hits, while the Ichabods also led 4-3 in walks. There were three errors in the field by the Ichabods with one for the Tigers.
Hatch earned the pitching win for Washburn, moving to 1-1 on the year while allowing one unearned run.
Risenhoover went 3-5 at the plate with a home run, a double and three RBI while Luce had a multi-hit game with a 2-5 performance while Littrell drove in a pair of runs.
The Ichabods return to the field for three games at home this weekend against Northwest Missouri State, beginning Friday at 4 p.m.
"Northwest is a great team and they got us four times last year and every game we led in the eighth inning and they took advantage of mistakes (to win),'' Douglas said. "I think we'll be geared up ready to play.''
WASHBURN 6, FORT HAYS STATE 5 (10 innings)
Fort Hays State 001 000 300 1 -- 5 8 1
Washburn 002 110 000 2 -- 6 9 3
Boutz, Camp (5), Jacobs (8) and Lipka. Hoffman, McDonald (6), Strash (7), Huiatt (8), Hatch (9). W -- Hatch (1-1). L -- Jacobs (1-3). 2B -- FHSU: Lipka. Washburn: Luce, Risenhoover, Mervosh, Littrell. 3B -- Washburn: Borgmann. HR -- Fort Hays State: Avila. Washburn: Risenhoover.
