By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn baseball hosts No. 21-ranked Central Oklahoma for three games this weekend, beginning on Friday at 5 p.m. and concluding with the series finale at 1 p.m. on Sunday for Senior Day.
Junior Payton McHarg leads Washburn with a .359 batting average and is tied for the national lead with 18 home runs. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods are coming off a 6-1 loss to Rockhurst on the road on Wednesday in a non-league contest.
Washburn is now 23-17 overall and 17-10 inside the MIAA, including a 13-5 record at Falley Field. The Bronchos enter the weekend with a 32-10 record on the year and an 18-9 record in the MIAA.
Before the game on Sunday all 12 members of the Washburn baseball senior class will be recognized on the field. The group playing in their last series at Falley Field includes Teagan Tamiya, Trey Adams, Cal Watkins, Cole Warner, Jake Schroeder, Shane Morrow, Cale Savage, Otto Jones, Seger Holman, Ike Brook, Jayden Payne and Charlie Kiefer.
Through 40 games Washburn is scoring 9.23 runs per game while allowing 7.55.
At the plate the Ichabods are hitting .322 with a .419 on-base percentage and are slugging .579 as a team. Washburn has 77 home runs and has drawn 202 walks.
Washburn's pitching staff has an earned run average of 7.32 this season in 341.2 innings pitched. The Ichabods have struck out 287 batters while allowing 380 hits and issuing 216 walks.
The Ichabods have a .968 fielding percentage with 46 errors on the year and have turned 33 double plays.
WU is second in the nation in home runs with an average of 1.93 per game and 77 blasts on the year.
The Ichabods are tied for sixth in the nation and second in the conference in doubles with 103.
Junior Payton McHarg has started and played in all 40 games for the Ichabods hitting .359 and a team-high 18 home runs and 50 RBI.
McHarg has scored 51 runs and 56 total hits and is tied for the national lead in home runs.
Cash Jay is hitting .358 in 38 games played with 37 starts and leads the team with 18 doubles. Jay also has 12 home runs and has driven in 47 runs.
Jett Buck is hitting .347 in 37 appearances and 36 starts this season. He has 51 hits, 11 doubles, a triple, 12 home runs and five stolen bases.
Seventeen players have taken the mound this season for Washburn.
Washburn Rural product Cooper Carlgren leads the Ichabods with 51.2 innings across 10 starts this season. He has a 6.45 ERA and a 3-2 record along with a team-high 53 strikeouts. Hitters have a .261 batting average against Carlgren, who is seventh in the MIAA in strikeouts.
Chase Torkelson is second on the team with 48.1 innings across 11 starts this season, compiling a 4-0 record for the most wins on the squad.
This weekend's series will be games 54-56 in the all-time series between Washburn and Central Oklahoma, with the Bronchos leading the series, 31-22.
Washburn is 7-6 against Central Oklahoma at Falley Field. Last season the Bronchos swept the season series three games to none in Edmond.
Washburn will play its final home game of the season in a non-conference game against Emporia State at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
The MIAA Tournament first round will begin on campus sites on Friday, May 3, and run until May 5 if needed.
