By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University softball will wrap up the 2025 regular season on Saturday, hosting Emporia State in a 1 p.m. Senior Day doubleheader.
Seniors Mariah Wheeler, Alexis Tanguma, Jaden LaBarge, Kaylee Wagner and Ellington Hogle along with student assistant coach Riley Stephens will be honored between games.
Washburn senior catcher Kaylee Wagner (left) is congratulated by her Ichabod teammates after hitting the go-ahead home run in last Friday's 10-7 win over Central Oklahoma. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The Ichabods (30-19 overall, 12-10 MIAA) split a doubleheader with No. 5-ranked Central Oklahoma last Friday in their only action of the week.
Emporia State is 29-21 this season and 9-13 in the MIAA after sweeping Newman on April 19 in Emporia.
The Ichabods are in sixth in the MIAA standings entering the final weekend, two games behind Central Missouri for fifth.
The 2025 MIAA Championship Tournament bracket will be announced on Saturday at the conclusion of all games. The top 10 in the final standings qualify for the single-elimination tournament which will be hosted by Fort Hays State April 30-May 4.
Washburn junior pitcher Sadie Walker is ninth in the nation in games started (26), 11th in appearances (33 ) and 38th in shutouts (4) while also ranking 47th in strikeouts (47).
Jenna Sprague is seventh in the nation with five saves.
Erin Boles and Tanguma lead the Ichabods with 14 multiple-hit games and Wagner leads the team with 14 multi-RBI games.
Hogle, a Silver Lake product, has reached base in each of the last 15 games and Boles has reached base safely in the last 12 games.
Hogle leads the Ichabods in MIAA play with a .382 batting average, going 11 for 22 in the last six games in MIAA action.
Sydney Wagner leads the Hornets with a .353 batting average, while Brooke Flewelling is batting .311 with 42 RBI and Silver Lake product Taryn Burkhardt has a team-high 40 runs scored and 39 stolen bases while batting .300.
Rossville product Gracie Rabe is 10-10 in the pitching circle with a 2.47 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP and Jordan Harrison is 14-7 with a 3.22 ERA.
The Ichabods trail the all-time series 73-47 losing the last two and three of the last four in the series.