The Washburn Ichabod softball team will wrap up its regular season with a trip to Emporia State on Saturday for a 2 p.m. MIAA doubleheader
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Washburn University Ichabods
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University softball earned a 4-2 win over Missouri Western in the opening game of the MIAA Tournament on Wednesday afternoon in Emporia, improving to 36–18 on the season.
Former Seaman standout Aspen Burgardt drove in two of Washburn's four runs in Wednesday's 4-2 MIAA Tournament win over Missouri Western. [File photo/TSN]
With the win the Ichabods advanced to the MIAA Tournament quarterfinals where they will face top-seeded Missouri Southern at 11 a.m. on Thursday.
The Ichabods struck first in the bottom of the opening inning when All-MIAA first-team pick Makenzie Sais drew a leadoff walk, moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Taylor Brees and a wild pitch, then came home on an Aspen Burgardt single.
Missouri Western briefly tied the game in the third, but Washburn answered when Sais singled to start the bottom of the inning and advanced on another sacrifice bunt by Brees.
After Dalaney Anderson reached base on a passed ball, Burgardt lifted a sac fly to center to bring Sais home, putting WU up 2–1.
The Ichabods added to its lead in the fourth when Madi Moore led off with a double to left and pinch runner Ashlyn Gaughan came home on Maddie McGee's double.
Moments later, McGee and Sais executed a double steal, with McGee swiping home to make it 4–2 and wrap up the scoring.
Washburn senior Sadie Walker improved to 19-8 with a 4-2 win over Missouri Western Wednesday. [File photo/TSN]
Senior pitcher Sadie Walker delivered a complete-game victory, allowing just four hits and one earned run while striking out nine.
Walker retired the Griffons in order in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to close out the win, improving to 19-8 on the season.
Offensively, Sais went 2 for 2 with two runs scored, a walk and a stolen base, while Burgardt drove in two runs with a single and a sacrifice fly.
McGee added a double and an RBI, and Moore contributed an extra-base hit as Washburn tallied five hits on the afternoon.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Dalaney Anderson
DALANEY ANDERSON, Washburn University
Drew FayDREW FAY, Cair Paravel Latin
A senior, Fay captured his second straight city boys tennis championship last Thursday at Kossover Tennis Center. Fay earned the No. 1 singles crown with an 8-3 win over Topeka High standout Tres Lassiter after teaming with Eric Buchenau to win the No. 1 city doubles title as a junior en route to a runnerup Class 3A-1A state finish.
Kieffer O'Connor
KIEFFER O'CONNOR, Washburn Rural
O'Connor, a senior tennis player, teamed with Ben Tryhus to claim city and Centennial League doubles championships over a four-day period as Washburn Rural captured team titles in both events. O'Connor and Tryhus won the No. 2 doubles title in Thursday's city meet with an 8-3 win over Seaman, and the Junior Blue duo followed that up with the Centennial League doubles championship on Monday, taking a 1-6, 6-1, 10-8 win over teammates Cale Deutscher and Dylan Willingham.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Gavin Wilhelm gets fired up every time he gets to toe the pitching rubber for Washburn University baseball.
But the junior right-hander had extra incentive Saturday and responded with the best outing of his Ichabod career, leading WU to a 5-0 Senior Day two-hit shutout over No. 5 Pittsburg State in Steve Anson Stadium at Falley Field.
Washburn junior pitcher Gavin Wilhelm gave up just one hit in six-plus innings in Saturday's 5-0 win over No. 5 Pittsburg State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Wilhelm, a Seaman product, gave up just one hit in 6.1 innings and recorded five strikeouts before seniors Griffin Huiatt, Blake Priest and Caleb Lunnon came on in relief to finish off the shutout over the MIAA champion Gorillas.
"All these guys here are the closest I've ever been with, and this is the most fun team I've ever been a part of,'' Wilhelm said. "The connections have just been unreal this season and just knowing that this is the guys' last game at Falley here just really meant a lot.''
Wilhelm, who improved to 3-0 on the season, got off to a quick start against the Gorillas (39-9 overall, 26-9 MIAA) and seemed to get stronger as the game wore on.
"I just felt good the entire day,'' Wilhelm said. "Everything was working for me. I had good defense behind me, I was just taking it one pitch at a time and just going from there.''
"Gavin today was really good,'' Washburn coach Harley Douglas said. "He had all his pitches working, he really commanded the zone and went after it very quickly and when you can get on top of it then you can start throwing the pitches you want and I thought he did a good job with that today.
"It's great to see, with him coming off the injury and being able to do that today.''
Prior to the game Washburn honored seniors Huiatt, Priest, Lunnon, Jackson Mervosh, Maclane Finley, Kyle Snyder, Max Clark and Keegan McDonald.
And once the series finale got under way it didn't take long for the Ichabods (21-28, 17-18) to get on the scoreboard.
Ian Luce singled with one out, and after Jack Borgmann walked and Levi Risenhoover was hit by a pitch, the bases were loaded.
Easton Wasinger drove one home with a single, a second scored on a wild pitch and Trenton Barry lifted a sacrifice fly to center to put the Ichabods up 3-0.
Wilhelm held Pittsburg State without a hit until the fourth inning while Washburn went up 4-0 in the bottom of the third on a solo home run from Borgmann.
Wilhelm exited with one out in the seventh inning and Huiatt finished off the inning.
In the seventh Borgmann slashed a single and Risenhoover worked a walk to put two runners on before Barry slapped a double into the right-center gap to account for the final margin.
Priest took over on the mound in the middle of the eighth and he and Lunnon combined to finish out the game without allowing another baserunner as Washburn picked up its third shutout of the season.
Luce, Borgmann and Barry also had multi-hit days.
Third baseman Jack Borgmann reached base all four times, including a home run, in Saturday's 5-0 win over No. 5 Pittsburg State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Borgmann reached base all four times, going 2-2 with two walks, three runs and an RBI. Barry drove in a pair of runs.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Sophomore second baseman Dalaney Anderson is one RBI away from tying Washburn softball's single-season record. [File photo/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Dalaney Anderson set a Washburn single-season RBI record in Saturday's MIAA road sweep at Emporia State. [File photo/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University baseball built an early lead over No. 5-ranked Pittsburg State but were unable to overcome three home runs from the Gorillas, falling 10-7 in the series-opener on Thursday evening at Steve Anson Stadium.
The Ichabods will look to even the series in game two at 4 p.m. on Friday.
Washburn (20-28 overall, 16-18 MIAA) opened up a 7-2 advantage in the bottom of the fourth inning but Pittsburg State (39-8, 26-8) roared back as former Seaman star Dagen Brewer hit a solo homer in the fifth inning and a two-run shot in the sixth before Seth Dandridge smacked a two-run homer to put the Gorillas in front.
With his second home run Thursday, Brewer, in his second year in the program, set the Pitt State career home run record with 47, passing Andrew Vogelbaugh, who slugged 46 round-trippers over four seasons from 2015-18.
After Washburn starting pitcher Kai Bennett delivered a scoreless first two innings the hosts got on the board with a two-run blast by Brooks Richardson that drove in Brandt Beeby, who doubled with two outs.
The Gorillas answered with two runs in the third on two hits and two walks to tie the game but Washburn's Ian Luce broke the tie with a leadoff home run off the scoreboard in right field making it 3-2 Ichabods.
Beeby cleared the wall in left-center to begin the fourth inning. Walks from Richardson and Eli Dean put two runners on before Jack Borgmann reached on a two-out infield single that loaded the bases.
Levi Risenhoover then cleared the bases with a triple into the gap in right-center that made it a 7-2 Ichabod advantage.
Pittsburg State answered back with Brewers's solo home run to begin the fifth followed by a pair of singles that plated another run.
Brewers's two-run shot made it a one-run game before the Gorillas were able to take the lead on Dandridge's two-run home run in the seventh.
Pitt State added two more runs on a single up the middle with two outs in the ninth while the Washburn offense managed just one hit in the final three innings.
Pittsburg State led 14-11 in hits while also working a 7-3 advantage in walks. Both errors in the game were committed by the Ichabods.
Four pitchers were used by Washburn, with Bennett tossing 4.0 innings in his start and allowing two earned runs. Fidel Hatch (2-3) look the loss.
Risenhoover went 2-3 and drove in a team-high three runs for Washburn.
The Gorillas remained in first place in the MIAA standings with two games remaining in the regular season.
Ricardo Hernandez picked up his first win of the season for Pitt State, limiting the Ichabods to two hits over 2.1 innings of relief work.
Cason Long clinched the win, following Hernandez with 3.0 innings of one-hit relief work and striking out four batters along the way.
Eric Bacon went 4 for 5 at the plate with two runs scored and three RBI.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Maclane Finley is one of eight seniors Washburn will honor prior to Saturday's 1 p.m. Senior Day game against No. 5-ranked Pittsburg State. [File photo/TSN]Prior to the game on Saturday Ichabod seniors Finley, Jackson Mervosh, Caleb Lunnon, Griffin Huiatt, Kyle Snyder, Max Clark, Blake Priest and Keegan McDonald will be recognized on the field. The eight seniors have combined to spend 23 seaons with the Ichabods.
Washburn is scoring 7.87 runs per game on the year while opponents are scoring 7.85 runs per game. The Ichabods are 11-8 playing at home.
The Ichabods are hitting .293 and have tallied 39 home runs with 244 total walks.
The pitching staff has a 6.65 earned run average with 361 strikeouts across 407.2 innings.
Junior Ian Luce leads Washburn baseball in multiple categories entering the Ichabods' final regular-season series Thursday through Saturday against Pittsburg State. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn's Ian Luce has reached base in all 47 games, the only Ichabod to do so. Brandt Beeby's 17-game on-base streak is the second longest on the team.
Luce has a team-high 25 games with multiple hits while hitting .410 with seven home runs, five triples and 48 RBI.
He leads the MIAA and is sixth nationally in hits.
Levi Risenhoover is hitting .304 for the Ichabods while leading the team with 11 home runs and a team-high 56 RBI.
Jack Borgmann is hitting .318 with five home runs and 32 RBI while Beeby is hitting .336 with 26 RBI, with three triples and three home runs and Easton Wasinger is hitting .309 and has driven in 32 runs with four home home runs.
Finley has thrown 64.1 innings across his 12 starts this season. He has struck out 46 batters and has a 5.32 ERA and 5-3 record, posting a team-high in victories. He has thrown into the fifth inning in every start.
Fidel Hatch has pitched in 18 games and has thrown 38.1 innings while striking out 33. He has a team-best 4.70 ERA to go along with a 2-2 record and leads the team with two saves.
Seaman product Gavin Wilhelm has pitched in 12 games while making three starts. He has a 2-0 record across 28.1 innings with 27 strikeouts and a 5.72 ERA.
Former Seaman star Dagen Brewer has started in all 46 games for Pittsburg State, hitting .446 with 21 home runs and 89 RBI while compiling a .583 on base percentage.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Brody Anderson
BRODY ANDERSON, Seaman
A senior track star, Anderson won a pair of individual wins in Friday's Leitel Legacy Invitational at Lawrence Free State. Anderson, a returning Class 5A state medalist, won the 800 meters in 1 minute, 53.37 seconds and came back later to win the 3,200 in 9:11.63. Both of Anderson's winning times were personal records.
Brandt Beeby
BRANDT BEEBY, Washburn University
Beeby, a junior baseball player from Tulsa, Okla., went 3 for 3 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored and a run batted on Sunday as Washburn University took a rain-delayed 6-3 MIAA win over Emporia State at Steve Anson Stadium to claim the series win.
Jacob Fratzel
JACOB FRATZEL, Washburn University
A standout men's golfer for the Ichabods, Fratzel was named an All-MIAA first-team selection and the conference freshman of the year after leading Washburn to a second-place finish in the MIAA Tournament. A St. James Academy product, Fratzel helped WU earn an NCAA Regional berth, posting six top-10 individual finishes, including a seventh-place finish in the MIAA tourney.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University baseball overcame Emporia State and a rain delay of nearly three hours Sunday to take a 6-3 series-clinching win over the Hornets at Steve Anson Stadium.
Brandt Beeby (left) went 3-3 with a pair of doubles and Trenton Barry (4) had two hits in Washburn's 6-3 series-clinching win over ESU Sunday. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Emporia State took a 3-0 lead in its first two at-bats, but Washburn answered with six straight runs to take the win, improving to 20-27 overall and 16-17 in the MIAA.
ESU (32-15, 19-14) got on the board first as Logan Myers was hit by a pitch to lead off the game and eventually scored on a single by Noah Steele.
The Hornets added two more runs in the second as Brady Unrein led off the inning with a walk and scored from first on a one-out double by Cooper Schwindt.
An Ichabod error put runners on the corners before Logan Myers drove in Schwindt to make the score 3-0.
Washburn would quickly respond, however, scoring three runs on two hits, one hit batter and a walk to tie the game.
In the bottom half of the fourth the Ichabods picked up a leadoff double from Brandt Beeby and used a sacrifice bunt from Owen Laessig and an RBI groundout from Brooks Richardson to take a 4-3 lead.
Emporia State left six on base over the next three innings as the score stayed 4-3 through seven.
The Hornets put a pair of runners on base in the top of the eighth before lightning and rain forced the game into a delay with one out.
Following the long delay, the Hornets stranded both runners on base and Washburn scored two insurance runs on three hits in the bottom of the eighth to extend its advantage to 6-3 as Beeby and Eli Dean delivered back-to-back run-scoring doubles.
Emporia State got a leadoff single by Evan Abbott in the ninth and eventually brought the tying run to the plate with one out before a pair of popups ended the game.
Beeby went 3-3, including his two doubles, with two runs scored and an RBI.
Trenton Barry went 2-3 and Brooks Richardson had two RBI.
Gavin Wilhelm struck out five batters in 4.1 innings in Washburn's 6-3 win over ESU Sunday. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
WU starter Gavin Wilhelm went 4.1 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) with five strikeouts before Blake Priest, Mark Hoffman and Griffin Huiatt followed with scoreless relief stints.
Hoffman (3-5) picked up the win and Huiatt the save.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University baseball built an early 3-0 lead but Emporia State used a four-run seventh inning to even the series with a 5-4 win Saturday at Steve Anson Stadium.
The Ichabods and Hornets will face off in the rubber match at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Washburn, now 19-27 overall and 15-17 in the MIAA, jumped out to a 3-0 advantage in the bottom of the first inning as Ian Luce started things with a one-out single and Jack Borgmann walked to put two Ichabods on base.
Levi Risenhoover had a pair of doubles and reached base three times in Washburn's 5-4 loss to Emporia State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Levi Risenhoover doubled to plate Luce for a 1-0 lead before Easton Wasinger slashed a single to right field that scored two more runs.
Topekan Maclane Finley went six innings on the mound for Washburn and allowed just one unearned run in Saturday's 5-4 MIAA loss to Emporia State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Seaman product Maclane Finley made the pitching start for Washburn and went 6.0 innings, striking out five and allowing just one unearned run.
The Hornets (32-14, 19-13) took an advantage of a pair of Ichabod errors in the field to score one run in the top of the fifth but Finley delivered a scoreless sixth to wrap up his outing.
In the seventh inning Emporia State loaded the bases on three straight singles by Dylan Brisbois, Brady Unrein and Gus Keller.
An RBI groundout by Tyler Coffin and an Evan Abbott fielder's choice scored two runs to tie the game before Noah Steele doubled to cap the four-run frame and give Emporia State a 5-3 lead.
In the home half of the seventh Jackson Mervosh and Brooks Richardson both slashed singles to put WU runners at the corners.
With two outs Trenton Barry found a hole on the left side of the infield to score Mervosh and pull the Ichabods within one run.
The Ichabods left two on base in the seventh and went down in order in the eighth inning.
Caleb Lunnon took over on the mound for Washburn in the eighth with a 1-2-3 inning before leaving two Hornets stranded in a scoreless ninth.
But Washburn was unable to even up the score in the ninth.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University baseball scored three runs in the seventh inning to come from behind and take game one from Emporia State 5-4 on Friday evening in Steve Anson Stadium.
Griffin Huiatt picked up the pitching win in Washburn's 5-4 come-from-behind decision over Emporia State Friday. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods will look to secure the series in game two at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
After a scoreless first inning, the Hornets (31-14 overall, 18-13 MIAA) were able to walk the bases loaded in the second inning before slashing a single into right to score two runs.
Ichabod starter Kai Bennett settled in on the mound after the second, tossing scoreless third and fourth innings.
A one-out single from Jack Borgmann followed by a stolen base put him in scoring position before Jackson Mervosh cashed in with a single to left field, scoring Borgmann to put Washburn (19-26, 15-16) on the board.
A leadoff double came around to score for Emporia State to put the Hornets in front 3-1, but an error in the outfield allowed Owen Laessig to reach second base with two outs in the bottom of the fifth.
Trenton Barry followed with a double to the outfield wall, scoring a run to make it a 3-2 game.
The Hornets answered with one run in the sixth before Griffin Huiatt finished his outing out of the bullpen by throwing a scoreless seventh inning.
In the home half of the seventh Laessig was hit by a pitch before scoring on a triple into the right field corner by Barry.
Ian Luce followed with a single up the middle to tie the game before Borgmann slashed a double and Levi Risenhoover lifted a sacrifice fly to score Luce and give Washburn a 5-4 lead.
Fidel Hatch took over on the mound with one out in the eighth and retired both batters he faced to strand one. He stayed on the mound in the ninth, retiring the Hornets in order with one strikeout to close out the win.
By RICK PETERSON
Junior Ian Luce leads Washburn baseball in multiple categories entering a weekend series with Emporia State. [File photo/TSN]Washburn fell to 18-26 on the season overall and 14-16 in the MIAA after falling 7-6 to No. 14-ranked Central Missouri last time out on Tuesday.
Emporia State improved to 31-13 overall and 18-12 in the MIAA after defeating Fort Hays State 25-15 in seven innings last time out.
The Ichabods are coming off a fourth straight winning season in 2025, going 28-25 overall and 18-18 in the MIAA.
Washburn is scoring 8.07 runs per game on the year while opponents are scoring 8.11 runs per game.
The Ichabods are 9-7 at home, 8-17 in road games and 1-2 in neutral field meetings.
Washburn is hitting .292 and has tallied 39 home runs.
The WU pitching staff has a 6.88 earned run average with 338 strikeouts across 380.2 innings. The Ichabods have allowed 457 hits and issued 259 walks.
Washburn has a .966 fielding percentage as a team with 56 errors and 20 turned double plays.
Manhattan native Ian Luce has the longest current hitting streak for Washburn at 23 games heading into the weekend, the longest hitting streak of any Ichabod this season.
Luce has reached base in all 44 games, the only player to do so. Jack Borgmann's 16-game on-base streak is the second longest on the team.
Luce has a team-high 25 games with multiple hits and is hitting .426 with a .516 on base percentage. He has 30 total extra-base hits including seven home runs and five triples, has driven in 47 runs and is 18-21 in stolen base attempts.
He is first in the MIAA and second nationally in hits, third in the MIAA and 23rd nationally in batting average while ranking second in the conference in total bases and triples.
Levi Risenhoover is hitting .309 and leads the team with 11 home runs and a team-high 54 RBI. He is fifth in the MIAA in doubles and home runs while ranking sixth in RBI.
Kai Bennett has thrown 52.2 innings over his 11 starts for Washburn and leads the team with 54 strikeouts while posting a 5.30 ERA and posting a 2-4 record on the year.
Seaman graduate Maclane Finley leads Washburn with five pitching victories heading into this weekend's MIAA home series with Emporia State. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman product Maclane Finley leads the Ichabods with 58.1 innings pitched across his 11 starts. He has struck out 41 batters and has a 5.86 ERA and 5-3 record, recording a team-high in victories. He has thrown into the fifth inning in every start.
Fidel Hatch has pitched in 16 games, making one start and throwing 36.1 innings and striking out 30. He has a team-best 4.95 ERA to go along with a 2-2 record.
Seaman grad Gavin Wilhelm has pitched in 11 games with two starts. He has a 2-0 record across 24.0 innings with 22 strikeouts and a 6.00 ERA.
John Martin is in his first season as the head coach at Emporia State after spending the previous 10 seasons at Central Oklahoma.
Emporia State is scoring 9.48 runs per game while opponents are averaging 5.57.
The Hornets offense is hitting .314 as a team with 66 home runs and have tallied 264 total walks with 293 strikeouts.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Kaitlyn Aldridge
KAITLYN ALDRIDGE, Shawnee Heights
Aldridge, a junior swimming standout, won the 100-yard butterfly in last Tuesday's Topeka West Invitational at the Capitol Federal Natatorium in a time of 1 minute, 9.79 seconds while also posting a runnerup finish in the 200 individual medley (2:35.70) and swimming on the T-Birds' second-place 200 medley relay (2:21.49).
Dalaney Anderson
DALANEY ANDERSON, Washburn University
A sophomore second baseman, had a huge weekend as Washburn University softball went 3-1 to improve to 33-18 and clinch a spot in the upcoming MIAA Tournament. Anderson, a native of Seward, Neb., hit a pair of three-run homers in Saturday's 6-4, 6-4 doubleheader split with Missouri Western and delivered two two-run doubles in Sunday's 2-0, 6-3 sweep over Northwest Missouri, giving her 10 RBI and 61 on the season, one off the WU single-season record.
Grace Funk
GRACE FUNK, Hayden
Funk, a senior midfielder, scored three goals on the week as Hayden soccer improved to 7-0-0 on the season. Funk had a goal in the Wildcats' 5-0 win over Shawnee Heights last Monday and scored both goals in Hayden's 2-0 Centennial League win over defending Class 6A state champion Washburn Rural on Wednesday. Funk was also a multi-time 4A state medalist in tennis.
By RICK PETERSON
Sophomore Dalaney Anderson had a pair of two-run doubles in Washburn's 6-3 second-game Senior Day win over Northwest Missouri, giving her 10 RBI on the weekend. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]] 
Washburn sophomore Makenzie Sais tripled and scored the game-winning run in Sunday's 2-0 first-game win over Northwest Missouri and became the MIAA record-holder for stolen bases in a single season. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
Washburn University softball split a pair of 6-4 MIAA games with Missouri Western on Saturday at Gahnstrom Field, winning the opener and falling in the nightcap.
Dalaney Anderson is mobbed by her Washburn teammates after hitting a three-run home run in Saturday's 6-4 first-game win over Missouri Western. {Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Ichabods, who equaled their win total from the 2025 season with the first-game win, will wrap up their home schedule on Sunday, hosting Northwest Missouri in a 1 p.m. twinbill.
Washburn used a six-run third inning in the first game against Missouri Western to take control after trailing 1-0 and held off the Griffons late.
Missouri Western opened the scoring in the top of the third on a solo home run from Halee Higdon to take a brief lead, but Washburn responded immediately in the bottom of the inning, sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring six runs.
Shawnee Heights product Taylor Brees got the Ichabods on the board with an RBI single up the middle to score Kate Ediger.
Two batters later Dalaney Anderson delivered a three-run home run to left field to put Washburn in front.
Erin Boles is congratulated by Washburn third base coach Taylor Zordel after hitting a two-run homer in Saturday's 6-4 first-game win over Missouri Western. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Seaman grad Aspen Burgardt followed with a double and Erin Boles capped the inning with a two-run home run to left-center as Washburn surged ahead 6-1.
Missouri Western chipped away with three runs over the next two innings, cutting the margin to 6-4, but Washburn's pitching and defense shut things down from there.
Senior pitcher Sadie Walker picked up her 16th win of the season in Saturday's 6-4 first-game win over Missouri Western. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Senior starter Sadie Walker earned the win in the circle, allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out six over 5 2/3 innings. Senior Jenna Sprague closed out the game to pick up the save, recording her school-record eighth career save.
At the plate, Anderson drove in three runs, Boles added two RBI and Brees drove in a run.
Washburn totaled eight hits by eight different players.
By RICK PETERSON
Washburn's Ian Luce hit a home run and had four RBI in Saturday's 12-4 MIAA road win over Rogers State. [File photo/TSN]Neither team got on the board in the first two innings of action with former Seaman standout Maclane Finley keeping the Hillcats off the board.
Trenton Barry led off the Washburn third with a single and came around to score with two outs on a single by Jack Borgmann, putting Washburn up 1-0.
Next time at the plate, a walk followed by a single from Brooks Richardson put Ichabods two on.
Both scored on a double to right field from Barry. Ian Luce followed that with his second home run of the week over the right field wall to put Washburn up 5-0.
Rogers State was held scoreless until it strung together a pair of walks with two hits to score two in the fifth inning.
After the Hillcats got two on with one out in the sixth Griffin Huiatt took over on the mound.
The bases filled up but Huiatt got out of the inning scoreless to maintain the lead.
Next time up Rogers State did score two runs, on a pair of bases-loaded walks, cutting the deficit to one.
After Richardson led off the eighth with a single Washburn added some insurance with a two-out double from Levi Risenhoover.
In the top of the ninth Brandt Beeby led off with a homer to right field. After a walk and two grounders Richardson found a hole up the middle to plate another run.
Barry walked and Luce plated two more with a double into right. Risenhoover reached on a double and Borgmann drove both in with a single to cap the six-run ninth.
Caleb Lunnon tossed a scoreless ninth to finish off the first ranked victory of the season for the Ichabods.
By RICK PETERSON
Erin Boles is one of five seniors who will be honored by Washburn softball Sunday at Gahnstrom Field. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Senior pitcher Sadie Walker ranks second on Washburn's career strikeout list. [File photo/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman High School checked all the boxes that Joe Smith was looking for in a coaching job.
Joe Smith
Smith formerly coached middle school basketball for Seaman and works and lives and has a daughter that attends school in the district.
Now the former Washburn Ichabod, who has coached Jefferson West the past five seasons, is set to add the final piece of the puzzle after being selected to succeed retiring Craig Cox as the Vikings' head boys basketball coach pending approval from the Seaman USD 345 school board.
"Obviously opportunities present themselves and you want to continue to grow and challenge yourself professionally,'' said Smith, who works at Seaman's alternative school. "But also my daughter plays and assuming she continues to play I would have some decisions to make in a couple of years anyway. Do I keep coaching at Jeff West and miss all of her games because she would still be at Seaman or do I not coach and watch her play or does she go to Jeff West? There was just a lot of family stuff to consider.
"But honestly, everything that Seaman embodies as a school district is the stuff that I kind of live my life by, so it's just kind of the right place, right time, perfect fit for me and my family.''
Smith takes over a Viking program that Cox led to a state title in 2022 and a third-place finish in Class 5A this past season.
The Vikings graduated a talented senior class, including Shawnee County and United Kansas Conference player of the year KaeVon Bonner, but Smith is confident Seaman can continue its run of success.
"I think the word that I would use is consistent,'' Smith said. "They are consistently in the conversation every year, no matter who they have. It's kind of a changing of the guard in a bunch of different senses. This will be the first time that a Bonner boy isn't been playing for Seaman in the last 12 years, but hopefully this will give some other guys some opportunities to showcase what they can do.
"I just want to keep them consistent and keep them in the conversation and not have any letup. I definitely don't want to go in and try to re-invent the wheel. I've just got to kind of put my stamp on things and my spin on things and just see what we can make out of it.''
Smith, a native of Memphis, Tenn., played for Washburn from 2011-2013 and also played professionally in Denmark and for Michigan in the American Basketball Association before embarking on his coaching career.
Smith coached for two years at Washburn and also coached at Highland Park and Seaman Middle School before taking over the head coaching job at Jeff West, which posted a 15-10 record this past season.
By RICK PETERSON
Junior Levi Risenhoover hit a pair of home runs with four RBI in Washburn's 13-5 road win at Fort Hays State. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]The Ichabods stay on the road to face Rogers State for three games beginning Friday at 3 p.m.
The Tigers (12-27 overall, 9-20 MIAA) got on the board first, scoring a run on two hits in the first inning.
Washburn (17-23, 13-13) was able to even the game at one after Owen Laessig lifted a leadoff home run in the third inning.
Ichabod pitcher Fidel Hatch quieted the Fort Hays State bats after the first inning with three straight scoreless innings to wrap up his start.
In the Washburn fifth Trenton Barry and Ian Luce both reached on singles after Laessig was hit by a pitch, loading the bases.
A throwing error allowed two runs to score for the Ichabods to take the lead.
With one out Jackson Mervosh slashed a single into left, scoring another run to make it 4-1.
Griffin Huiatt took over on the mound after the fourth, tossing two scoreless innings to begin his day.
Washburn continued to add on to its lead, with Luce, Levi Risenhoover and Jack Borgmann delivering back-to-back-to-back homers to lead off the seventh.
The Tigers got one run back on two hits in the bottom of the seventh.
Next time up Barry and Luce both reached before Risenhoover went yard for a second straight at-bat to put Washburn up, 10-2. Two batters later Easton Wasinger blasted a solo shot to right field, adding another run.
The Ichabods continued to add on in the ninth with Brandt Beeby pinch hitting and slamming a two-run homer down the left field line.
Fort Hays State scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth but Washburn held on to win 13-5.
Hits went in favor of the Ichabods 14-9 while the Tigers led 6-4 in walks and had the only error in the game.
Three pitchers completed the game for Washburn, with Hatch tossing four innings to begin the game, striking out five and allowing one run on three hits.
Huiatt earned the win, throwing 4.0 innings with four strikeouts and allowing one run.
Risenhoover led the offensive charge, going 2-6 with two home runs, the first multi-homer game for the Ichabods this season. He drove in four runs.
Luce went 3-6 with a home run while Wasinger and Borgmann both had multiple hits with homers. Beeby and Laessig also both also went yard.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Audrey Appuhn
AUDREY APPUHN, Washburn Rural
Appuhn, a senior swimming standout, won the 100-yard freestyle in 57.50 seconds and finished second in the 100 breaststroke in 1 minute, 15.99 seconds in Thursday's Topeka High Invitational at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. A multi-time Class 6A state medalist, Appuhn helped Washburn Rural finish third as a team in the 10-school meet.
Lauren Borjon
LAUREN BORJON, Hayden
A senior soccer goalkeeper, Borjon teamed with Kadence Watts, to help Hayden post a 3-0 shutout over Eudora and a 5-0 shutout over Bishop Miege in a rematch of last season's Class 4A-1A state title game. Borjon and Watts have helped the 5-0 Wildcats post three straight shutouts and their fourth in five games. Borjon also helped Hayden win the 2026 4A state basketball championship.
Liam Morrison
LIAM MORRISON, Washburn Rural
A multi-time Class 6A state track champion, the Washburn Rural senior swept the boys hurdles races in Friday's Mike Wallace Invitational in Olathe. Morrison, a two-time Class 6A champion in 2025 and a three-time champ in his career, won the 110-meter hurdles in 14.32 seconds and the 300s in 37.61. Rural also won the 4 x 400 relay in 3 minutes, 21.82 seconds.
By RICK PETERSON
Mark Hoffman pitched four-plus shutout innings in Saturday's 10-0 Washburn win over Arkansas-Fort Smith. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods now head on the road for four games, beginning Tuesday at Fort Hays State at 3 p.m.
After a scoreless first inning from Seaman product Gavin Wilhelm, Washburn (16-23 overall, 12-13 MIAA) got going offensively with two outs in the bottom of the first.
Jack Borgmann worked a walk and Levi Risenhoover slashed a single and advanced to second. Easton Wasinger slashed a single through the left side to score both runs and put the Ichabods up 2-0.
Arkansas-Fort Smith (4-35, 3-25) worked the bases loaded in the second inning but were kept off the board, with Risenhoover making a sliding catch in right field with two outs.
After escaping the jam Wilhem allowed one hit in the rest of his start.
The score stayed 2-0 into the fifth inning when Risenhoover took a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left field for a home run.
A hit batter and double by Jackson Mervosh put two more on, with a balk scoring another run in the three-run inning.
The Ichabods added to their in the sixth with a one-out double from Brooks Richardson, followed by a single from Ian Luce into center field to score him.
After Borgmann worked a walk Risenhoover slashed a triple into the gap in left center to score them both. Wasinger capped off the four-run inning and made it 9-0 with a double to left center.
After entering in the fourth inning Mark Hoffman continued to keep the Lions off the board and did not allow a hit until the eighth inning.
He left the bases loaded in the eighth to keep the shutout intact.
An error and fielder's choice put two runners on for Washburn in the eighth before Risenhoover was intentionally walked to load the bases. Wasinger was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game to score the game-winning run and end the game 10-0 after eight.
By RICK PETERSON
Washburn University softball team recorded its fifth straight 30-win season on Saturday afternoon with a 9-0, 11-2 MIAA doubleheader sweep over Newman in Wichita.
Senior Sadie Walker picked up her 15th pitching win in Washburn's 9-0 first-game shutout at Newman. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods have now won 15 straight games in a row over Newman.
Washburn combined for 28 hits and 20 runs on the day while holding the Jets to just two total runs across the two games.
The Ichabods have now reached the 30-win plateau four straight seasons, improving to 30-17 overall.
Washburn wasted no time in the opener, scoring twice in the first inning and adding four more runs in the second en route to the 9-0 run-rule victory.
The Ichabods opened the scoring when Dalaney Anderson drove in Makenzie Sais on a groundout before Madi Moore delivered a run-scoring single to plate Aspen Burgardt for an early 2-0 lead.
Washburn broke the game open in the second inning, capitalizing on Newman errors while continuing to put pressure on the Jets defensively.
Maddie McGee singled in a run, Anderson added a sacrifice fly and Burgardt doubled home another run to extend the lead to 6-0.
Taybor Moss kept things going in the third with an RBI double, scoring Moore, while Washburn added two more runs in the fifth to seal the run-rule victory.
At the plate, Moore and Moss both went a perfect 3 for 3 with RBI, while Seaman product Burgardt added two hits and an RBI and Shawnee Heights product Taylor Brees went 3 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Pitcher Sadie Walker tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing just two hits while striking out eight over five innings to improve to 15-8 on the season.
The Ichabods carried their momentum into game two, erupting for four runs in the first inning and four more in the second to seize control early.
After Anderson singled home Sais in the first and Madi Moore smoked a three-run homer to left field, giving Washburn a quick 4-0 advantage.
In the second, Anderson continued her big day at the plate by launching a two-run home run, and Washburn added two more runs on RBI hits from Moss and Kate Ediger to push the lead to 8-1.
By RICK PETERSON
Seaman product Maclane Finley picked up the pitching win Friday in Washburn's 13-3 MIAA victory over Arkansas-Fort Smith. [File photo/TSN]The Ichabods will go for the series sweep on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.
The Lions (4-32 overall, 3-24 MIAA) led off the game with a pair of hits, scoring one on a double steal.
After the bases were loaded on a walk and error, a second run came around to score on a walk to make it 2-0.
In the home half of the first Washburn's Trenton Barry led off with a ground-rule double and came around to score after Jack Borgmann walked and stole second.
Another run scored on a wild pitch before Brandt Beeby cleared the bases with a triple to the center field wall making it a 4-2 game. Another run scored a wild pitch to cap off the five-run first.
Seaman product Maclane Finley settled in on the mound with four straight scoreless innings after the first.
The score stayed 5-2 until the Ichabods (15-23, 11-13) loaded the bases in the fifth.
Washburn scored one run on a ground ball doubleplay to push the lead to four.
Next time up Arkansas-Fort Smith got a one-out walk followed by two stolen bases and an error to score a run and make it 6-3.
A hit batter and error put two on for Washburn in the sixth.
Brooks Richardson plated one with a single through the left side. Two batters later Ian Luce laced a single into centerfield to go up 8-3.
Griffin Huiatt took over on the mound in the sixth inning and delivered a clean seventh inning before handing things over to Blake Priest, who kept the lead intact with a zero in the eighth.
In the bottom of the eighth a single and two walks loaded the bases with two outs. Borgmann worked another walk, scoring a run.
Levi Risenhoover followed with a shot up the middle that scored two and made it an 11-3 game.
Kuyper Kendall shot a single into right field that scored two runs and ended the game 13-3 after eight innings.
Washburn led 9-6 in hits and worked eight walks compared to five for the Lions. The Ichabods did have two errors in the field while the visitors committed one.
Three pitchers appeared for Washburn with Finley tossing five innings and allowing one earned run while striking out four.
By RICK PETERSON
Zach Watkins' Washburn football team hosted William Jewell in its 2026 Spring Game Friday in Yager Stadium. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural product Jamond Lane goes through a contact drill during Friday's Washburn Spring Game with William Jewell. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
Levi Risenhoover had a big day, including a home run and a double, in Washburn's 9-3 win over Arkansas-Fort Smith Thursday. [File photo/TSN]After Kai Bennett delivered a scoreless first inning on the mound, Washburn (14-23 overall, 10-13 MIAA) got on the board early.
With two outs Jack Borgmann doubled and was brought home on a two-run homer to left field by Levi Risenhoover.
The Ichabods got two runners on in the second and after two wild pitches another run came around to score to make it 3-0.
The Ichabods continued to score with back-to-back walks to start the third.
Risenhoover laced a double into left-center to score both.
Easton Wasinger hit a sacrifice fly to bring Risenhoover home and make it a 6-0 game.
The Lions (4-31, 3-23) got on the board in the fourth inning with three hits to score two runs.
The score stayed that way into the seventh inning when Washburn loaded the bases with no outs on a single by Risenhoover and two walks. Wasinger slashed a single into right field to score two runs. Another scored on an RBI grounder by Eli Dean to go up 9-2.
Fidel Hatch took over in the eighth inning and recorded two outs before the game went into a 45-minute rain delay. He finished off the clean inning to maintain the six-run lead and finished off the game with a clean ninth inning to secure the victory.
Washburn led 11-7 in hits while also working six walks and allowing just two. The only error of the game was committed by Arkansas-Fort Smith.
Bennett earned the pitching win, throwing seven innings with eight strikeouts and just two earned runs. Hatch struck out three in his two innings of work.
Risenhoover went 3-4 at the plate, falling a triple short of the cycle while driving in four and scoring three runs. Borgmann went 2-3 with two walks and scored three runs and Wasinger was 2-2 with three RBI and a walk.
By RICK PETERSON
Former Washburn Rural star JC Heim returns for Washburn University football after ranking second in the nation with 142 tackles in 2025. [File photo/TSN]
Second-year Washburn football coach Zach Watkins and his Ichabods will wrap up spring practice with Friday night's Spring Game. [File photo/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Topeka Tennis Association will add Greg Lutz, Kurt Reid, John Waltz and Corey Wilson into its Hall of Fame on Saturday at the Bettis Family Sports Complex.
Greg Lutz
Kurt Reid
John Waltz
Corey Wilson
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University Hall of Famer Davy Lopes passed away Wednesday at the age of 80.
Davy Lopes, who passed away Wednesday, played baseball and basketball at Washburn University and was inducted into the Washburn Hall of Fame in 1987. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Lopes, inducted into the Washburn Hall of Fame in 1987, played baseball for the Ichabods in 1967 and basketball for WU in 1967-68 before later becoming a Major League Baseball star for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Lopes batted .380 in his one baseball season for the Ichabods and slugged .793 with nine home runs, three doubles and four triples, earning All-America honors.
Lopes also earned All-America honors the following winter as a guard on the Washburn men’s basketball team, shooting 50 percent from the field and averaging 7.6 points.
Lopes went on to become a four-time All-Star and a prolific basestealer at the Major League level while playing 16 years in the big leagues from 1972-87, including his first 10 seasons with the Dodgers. Lopes was a member of the Dodgers' 1981 World Series championship team.
Born and raised in Rhode Island, Lopes joined the Dodgers as their second-round pick in the 1968 draft and reached the majors in 1972 before becoming the team's full-time second baseman in 1973.
Lopes hit .274 with 36 stolen bases that season, which earned him a sixth-place finish in the National League Rookie of the Year voting.
Lopes was L.A.'s primary leadoff hitter the next nine years, averaging 53 steals per season from 1973-79.
He led the league with 77 steals in 1975 and 63 steals in 1976 and slugged a career-high 28 home runs in 1979. He went to four straight All-Star Games with the Dodgers from 1978-81.
During the 1981 World Series, Lopes reached base nine times in the six-game series win over the New York Yankees and stole four bases in four tries.
Lopes also played in three other World Series for the Dodgers.
The Dodgers traded Lopes to the Oakland A's in 1982 and he also played for the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros before retiring following the 1987 season with a career .263 average, a 349 on-base percentage, 1,671 hits, and 557 steals.
Following his playing days Lopes managed the Milwaukee Brewers in 2000-2001 and coached for the Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers and Washington Nationals.
By RICK PETERSON
Washburn sophomore Makenzie Sais leads the nation in stolen bases entering Thursday's at Central Missouri. [File photo/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
Washburn junior Ian Luce leads the Ichabods with a .414 average and 35 RBI. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn improved to 13-23 overall and is 9-13 in the MIAA after defeating Northwestern Oklahoma State 2-0 on Tuesday.
"That gives us a lot of confidence and it gives us a lot of confidence in our pitchers, too,'' Washburn junior center-fielder Ian Luce said. "That helps out a ton, seeing that when we don't have our best bats they have our back.''
Luce, a Manhattan product, said that the Ichabods are now looking to build off Tuesday's non-conference win in the Arkansas-Fort Smith series and beyond.
"We've just got to start winning those one and two-run ballgames,'' Luce said. "We just can't lose them.''
Washburn is scoring 7.83 runs per game on the year while opponents are scoring 8.67 runs per game.
The Ichabods are 6-6 playing at home.
At the plate the Ichabods are hitting .288. They have tallied 27 home runs with 194 total walks.
The pitching staff has a 7.34 ERA with 278 strikeouts across 312.2 innings. They have allowed 386 hits and issued 211 walks.
Washburn has a .964 fielding percentage as a team with 48 errors and 16 turned double plays.
On the basepaths the Ichabods have gone 73-90 in stolen base attempts while opponents have gone 53-72.
Luce has the longest current hitting streak at 15 games heading into the Arkansas-Fort Smith series, the longest hitting streak of any WU player this season.
Luce, hitting .414 with five home runs and 35 runs batted in, has reached base in all 36 games and has a team-high 20 games with multiple hits.
He is 1st in the MIAA and fifth nationally in hits and batting average.
Levi Risenhoover is hitting .304 and leads the team with seven home runs and 39 RBI.
Jack Borgmann is hitting .314 with four home runs and 21 RBI and leads the team with 31 walks.
Former Seaman standout Maclane Finley leads Washburn with 48.0 innings pitched across his nine starts this season.
He has struck out 35 batters and has a 6.56 earned run average and a 3-3 record, posting a team-high in victories. He has thrown into the fifth inning in every start.
Seaman graduate Gavin Wilhelm has pitched in nine games out of the bullpen. He has a 1-0 record across 16.1 innings with 16 strikeouts and an ERA of 7.16.
By RICK PETERSON
Washburn University baseball delivered its first shutout of the season Tuesday, blanking Northwestern Oklahoma State 2-0 at Steve Anson Stadium to snap a four-game losing streak.
Brian Wamsher picked up the pitching win in Washburn's 2-0 triumph over Northwestern Oklahoma. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods stay at home for a re-scheduled MIAA series with Arkansas-Fort Smith beginning Thursday at 4 p.m.
Griffin Huiatt took the ball first for the Ichabods (13-23) tossing a pair of hitless innings to begin the game.
Max Strash took over in the third inning and kept the Rangers (20-20) off the board with two more scoreless frames in the early pitchers duel.
Sean Kingston took over in the fifth and kept the game scoreless, striking out two.
Brian Wamsher entered next, delivering scoreless sixth and seventh innings.
In the bottom of the seventh Washburn broke the 0-0 tie with Easton Wasinger taking a 1-2 pitch over the wall in right field for a leadoff home run.
After Scout Jellison kept Northwestern Oklahoma State off the board with a scoreless eighth Jack Borgmann led off the home half of the inning with a double and scored on a two-out single up the middle by Jackson Mervosh to put the Ichabods up 2-0.
Carter Poole entered for the top of the ninth and stranded a pair of Rangers on base to secure the win and shutout.
Washburn led 9-5 in hits while Northwestern Oklahoma State had a 3-2 advantage in walks and both teams committed one error.
Six pitchers combined for the shutout for the Ichabods as Wamsher got the win and Poole recorded his first save of the season.
WU's Ian Luce went 3-4 to lead the team in hits while Wasinger went 2-4 with a home run and a double and Levi Risenhoover also went 2-4.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
From an early age Katie Glatczak knew she would probably be a coach someday.
In fact, given her family history, it was most likely inevitable.
Katie Glatczak
The 26-year-old Gtatczak grew up in a family of coaches, with father Larry coaching Centralia to four state football and a boys basketball title, mother Janelle coaching multiple sports and brothers Michael and Tyler also both coaching, with Michael leading Nemaha Central to state football titles in three of the past four seasons.
"Growing up, I've never really known any different,'' Katie Glatczak said. "From a very young age I grew up in the gym with mom and dad and my two brothers and ever since then I haven't gotten out of it and I love it.
"From being a manager at a young age for dad to being a player through high school and college to now coaching it really has been a blessing, just having the chance to impact lives in a special way that coaching just has and I couldn't ask for anything else.''
After a redshirt year, new Shawnee Heights volleyball and girls basketball coach Katie Glatczak played three seasons for Washburn University. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Now the former Washburn University basketball guard is set to take her next step up the coaching ladder, with Glatczak being approved Monday night by the Shawnee Heights school board as the T-Birds' new head volleyball and girls basketball coach.
Glatczak is taking over the Shawnee Heights volleyball reins from Sami Kearney, who resigned to spend more time with her family, and replaces longtime coach Bob Wells in basketball, with Wells retiring after leading the T-Birds to a fourth-place finish in Class 5A this past season.
"I started at Shawnee Heights actually for my very first year of teaching after I graduated from Washburn (in 2022),'' Glatczak said. "I was an elementary teacher at Berryton and then I helped out as an assistant in volleyball (under Kearney) and assistant softball (under Tara Griffith).''
"I loved it at Shawnee Heights. It just feels like a small town, which Centralia is just a little smaller than that area, but it just felt like a small town out there and just felt like home.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Kaitlyn Aldridge
KAITLYN ALDRIDGE, Shawnee Heights
A junior swimming standout, Aldridge won the 100-yard butterfly in a time of 1 minute, 11.39 seconds and finished second in the 100 backstroke in 1:11.31 in Thursday's Topeka High Invitational at the Capitol Federal Natatorium while also swimming on the T-Birds' third-place 200 free relay (2:03.17) and fourth-place 200 medley relay (2:21.17). Aldridge also posted an individual win and runnerup finish in last Tuesday's meet.
Brody Anderson
BRODY ANDERSON, Seaman
Anderson, a senior cross country and track star, shattered the Seaman school record in the boys 1,600 meters by nearly six seconds in Thursday's Jerry Beardslee Invitational at Washburn Rural. Anderson clocked a winning time of 4 minutes, 11.94 seconds and came back later in the day to win the 800 in 1:56.49 giving him four victories in four races on the season.
Taylor Brees
TAYLOR BREES, Washburn University
A freshman outfielder, Brees had a big weekend as Washburn University softball posted a pair of MIAA doubleheader road sweeps at Nebraska-Kearney (9-1, 4-0) and Fort Hays State (12-1, 6-0). Brees went 7 of 13 at the plate in the four games with six runs batted in and five runs scored. Brees went 5 of 6 in Friday's wins over Fort Hays State with five RBI and four runs scored.
By RICK PETERSON
Freshman Taylor Brees went 5 for 6 with five RBI and four runs scored in Friday's twinbill sweep at Fort Hays State. [File photo/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
Senior Sadie Walker threw a two-hitter in an 9-1 first-game win as Washburn snapped a seven-game losing streak with a twinbill sweep at Nebraska-Kearney. [File photo/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After putting up a spirited fight in a 14-11 loss at Division I Wichita State on Tuesday, Washburn returns to MIAA action with an important three-game road series at Missouri Western Thursday through Saturday in St. Joseph, Mo.
Washburn junior third baseman Trenton Barry (4) and the Ichabods will face Missouri Western in an MIAA road series Thursday through Saturday. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods will begin the series at 6 p.m. Thursday, followed by a 3 p.m. game on Friday and a 1 p.m. series finale on Saturday.
Washburn, 12-20 overall and 9-10 in the MIAA, gave a good accounting of itself in Tuesday's 14-11 loss at Eck Stadium to Wichita State, 20-10 on the year, including a five-run rally in the top of the ninth in the three-run loss.
"I felt like we came out right away with a lot of fire and nothing really to lose, playing up a division,'' Washburn junior third basemen Trenton Barry said. "We came out with fire and I think we carried it out. We made our mistakes here and there and that obviously cost us the game in the end.
"But that late run that we had, that showed that fight that we have. We've just got mistakes here and there that we've got to clean up. That's kind of been what the story's been all year and it's all going to be about fixing those and carrying on.''
And Barry, who is hitting .300 with two home runs, a team-high three triples and 19 RBI, said that it's time to get that done, beginning with the Missouri Western series.
"There's not much time to figure it out,'' he said. "Either you do it or you don't and that's going to be your wins and your losses. We showed (against Wichita State) that we are capable of playing with anybody in this country and I feel like we know that now.
"There should be no doubt in our mind going into every day that we should go win the game. We just need to put it all together now.''
Washburn is scoring 7.94 runs per game on the season while opponents are averaging 8.75 runs per game.
At the plate the Ichabods are hitting .288 and have tallied 23 home runs with 169 total walks.
The pitching staff has a 7.29 earned run average with 250 strikeouts across 279.0 innings. The Ichadobds have allowed 350 hits and issued 187 walks.
Washburn has a .964 fielding percentage as a team with 44 errors and 16 turned double plays.
WU's Ian Luce has the longest current hitting streak at 11 games heading into the weekend, the longest hitting streak of any player this season.
Luce is hitting a team-high .404 with 31 runs batted in and has reached base in all 32 games, the only Ichabod player to do so, and has a team-high 18 games with multiple hits.
Levi Risenhoover is hitting .317 and leads the team with seven home runs and 36 RBI.
Brandt Beeby is hitting .319, second-best on the team, in 16 stars.
Former Seaman standout Maclane Finley has thrown a team-high 42.0 innings across his eight starts this season.
He has struck out 31 batters and has a 6.86 ERA and 3-3 record, a team-high in victories. He has thrown into the fifth inning in every start.
Missouri Western fell to 15-17 overall and 10-11 in the MIAA with an 8-3 loss on the road to Emporia State on Tuesday.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University baseball coach Harley Douglas was less than pleased after his Ichabods let a late lead get away in Saturday's home 9-8 MIAA loss to Northeastern State and he told his team that in no uncertain terms in a long postgame talk.
Former Seaman standout Maclane Finley is congratulated by his teammates after throwing a scoreless inning in Sunday's 11-2 Washburn win over Northeastern State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
And the Ichabods, who committed five errors in Saturday's loss, apparently took Douglas' message to heart, responding with one of their best overall performances of the season on Sunday, rolling to an 11-2 win to take the series over the RiverHawks.
"We kind of had a little bit of a come to Jesus meeting with what happened (Saturday),'' Douglas said. (Northeastern) did a good job and came out and took advantage of our mistakes, but we have to put more into it with what we're trying to do. And I think yesterday put that all into perspective and we told them, 'You need to take a step back and realize what you're doing this for.'
"I think a lot of them did some thinking and realized it was time for us to kind of start trying to focus on each other instead of just ourselves. Anytime you can get a series win in this conference is huge. It's huge for us because it's the first time in a very long time we've put together a complete game. We hit, we pitched, we played defense and it explained to them just how good we can be if we just pay attention to what we're doing and pay attention to details.''
The Ichabods took control with five runs over the first two innings, got solid pitching performances from former Seaman standout Maclane Finley and Blake Priest and played error-free baseball en route to the decisive win.
Washburn, 12-19 overall, 9-10 MIAA, struck first on offense, with Trenton Barry leading off with a walk and scoring on a two-out double into right by Brandt Beeby in the bottom of the first.
After Beeby stole third he came home on the throw down to second on a stolen base by Jack Borgmann to put Washburn up 2-0.
Eli Dean (2) is greeted by his Washburn teammates after scoring a run in Sunday's 11-2 MIAA romp past Northeastern State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
In the second inning Eli Dean led off with a single and scored on a sacrifice fly from Barry.
Ian Luce followed with a triple that scored Owen Laessig to make a it 4-0 game and Levi Risenhoover capped off the three-run inning with a double.
After a pair of scoreless innings by Washburn starter Finley, the RiverHawks (11-21, 6-14) got on the board in the third, with a pair of hits scoring a run with no outs.
Northeastern State loaded the bases but Finley was able to escape the jam with a strikeout.
The Ichabods got the run back in the third, with Dean stroking a leadoff single and scoring on a two-out single from Laessig to give Washburn a 6-1 advantage.
The score stayed that way until the sixth inning when Northeastern State scratched out a run on three hits.
In the home half of the sixth Washburn loaded the bases with one out, scoring one run on a double play groundout to go up 7-2.
Priest took over on the mound in the seventh inning and tossed a scoreless frame.
In its next at bat Washburn loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a walk with one out before Luce singled up the middle to score two runs.
The Ichabods continued to add on to its lead in the eighth as Easton Wasinger and Borgmann slashed singles and Kolby Wheeler followed with a single that scored both runners to make it an 11-2 game.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
One of the most frustrating stretches of Brenda Holaday's long and successful 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 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 RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Ichabod softball will return to Gahnstrom Field this weekend for its third and fourth doubleheaders against ranked teams.
The Ichabods will host No. 11-ranked Missouri Southern on Friday starting at 4 p.m. and No. 7-ranked Pittsburg State on Saturday starting at 1 p.m.
The Ichabods enter the weekend with a 24-11 record and a 1-5 MIAA mark after being swept by No. 17-ranked Central Oklahoma on March 20, 8-0 and 6-0.
Former Seaman standout Aspen Burgardt, the Ichabods' third baseman, said she feels like Washburn is ready to get back on track.
Washburn sophomore Makenzie Sais leads the nation in stolen bases entering Friday's twinbill with Missouri Southern. [File photo/TSN]
"We've had a couple of tough practices lately and I just think we need to use what we do in practice and implement those things into the games,'' said Burgardt, who is hitting .347 with seven home runs and 22 runs batted in. "We just really need to get our hitting on board.
"That's been the issue lately. We're backed up by our pitchers, so we just need to perform on both sides of the ball. It's way early, so we've got plenty of time to turn it around for sure.''
Washburn sophomore Makenzie Sais is the Ichabod single-season leader in stolen bases and enters the weekend with a nation-best 57 steals, 20 ahead of the No. 2-ranked player on the chart.
The MIAA single-season stolen base record is 65 by Becca Alt from Missouri-Rolla (now Missouri S&T) set in 1997. Sais' 57 stolen bases are second on the MIAA single-season chart.
Sais' 74 career stolen bases at Washburn trail Torrie Beauchamp's 87 from 1996-1999 and Marrit Mead's 96 from 2021-24.
Dalaney Anderson is 13th in the nation with 40 RBI and she is 37th in home runs with eight.
Sadie Walker is third in the nation in shutouts with five and she is 17th in strikeouts with 98.
Missouri Southern is 27-5 this season and 2-2 in the MIAA and ranked No. 11 in the latest NFCA Top 25 poll after being ranked No. 3 last week.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Levi Risenhoover leads Washburn with six home runs and 30 RBI entering a weekend series with Northeastern State. [File photo/TSN]Game two will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday before a 1 p.m. Sunday contest in the series finale.
Washburn fell to 10-18 overall and 7-9 in MIAA play with a 13-0 loss to No. 6-ranked Central Missouri last time out on March 24.
The Ichabods will be looking to jump-start their season in this weekend's series.
"We're not playing near what we're capable of, but we're still in a lot of baseball games, so that's good,'' said WU pitcher Maclane Finley, a former Seaman standout. "I think our bats have shown that we can put up 20 runs a game, so I just think if we are just more consistent pitching and playing defense we'll be in a good spot.''
Washburn is scoring 7.64 runs per game on the year while opponents are scoring 8.78 runs per game.
The Ichabods are 3-5 playing at home, 6-11 in road games and 1-2 in neutral field meetings.
At the plate the Ichabods are hitting .280 with a .402 on base percentage and a .434 slugging percentage. Washburn has tallied 20 home runs with 154 total walks.
The WU pitching staff has a 7.36 earned run average with 217 strikeouts across 242.0 innings. The Ichabods have allowed 297 hits and issued 162 walks.
Washburn's Ian Luce has the longest current hitting streak at seven games heading into the weekend. The longest streak of the season has been eight games set by four different players.
Luce has reached base in all 28 games, the only player to do so, and has a team-high 15 games with multiple hits.
Luce has started all 28 games, hitting a team-high .392. He has 18 extra-base hits, including four home runs with 25 RBI and is 7-9 in stolen base attempts. He is fifth in the MIAA and 16th nationally in doubles. He also ranks fifth in the conference in total hits and ninth in runs.
Levi Risenhoover is hitting .314 while starting in all 26 games he has appeared in. He leads the team with six home runs and 30 RBI. He is seventh in the MIAA in doubles, 10th in home runs and 11th in RBI.
Kai Bennett has thrown 31.1 innings over his seven starts for the Ichabods. He is leading the team with 32 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .237 batting average. He has a 4.60 earned run average.
Finley has pitched 36.0 innings across his seven starts this season. He has struck out 25 batters and has a 7.50 ERA and 2-3 record, tied for a team-high in victories. He has thrown into the fifth inning in every start.
Max Strash has appeared in 12 games out of the bullpen for the Ichabods, throwing 11.2 innings. He has 11 strikeouts and has a team-best 3.86 ERA.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After nine highly successful seasons at Washburn University and 11 seasons as a head coach, Ichabod men's basketball coach Brett Ballard is a full-fledged veteran.
Washburn men's basketball coach Brett Ballard and coaches all over the country are still trying to get accustomed to coaching in the era of the transfer portal and NIL deals. [File photo/TSN]
But in light of an ever-changing landscape at the NCAA Division II level, Ballard is dealing with things in the era of the transfer portal and NIL agreements that he never really had to worry about just a few seasons ago
"I just talked to my wife two days ago about how much our job description and the reality of our world has changed, especially the last two to three years,'' Ballard told TopSports.news. "Some of what we do is still the same, but a lot of what we do and what the reality of our jobs is has completely flipped.
"And to be real honest, from a coaching perspective, a lot of the changes aren't particularly positive.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University baseball battled back from a 7-1 deficit to take a 10-9 MIAA win on Saturday afternoon, evening the series with Northwest Missouri State at one game each.
Griffin Huiatt picked up the win in Washburn's 10-9 victory over Northwest Missouri. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The rubber match is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday.
The Bearcats (18-8 overall, 8-4 MIAA) put a pair of runs on the board in the first inning scoring two on a one-out double after a hit and an error led off the game.
Washburn's Jackson Mervosh led off the second inning with a single, moving to second on an error. He moved to third and scored on an RBI groundout by Chase Littrell to pull the Ichabods within one run.
Northwest Missouri put two runners on in the third before smashing back-to-back home runs to go up 6-1.
The Bearcats went yard again in the next inning, hitting a solo home run.
Washburn (10-16, 7-7) started the fourth inning with a pair of walks. With two outs Owen Laessig hit a single deep in the left side of the infield to score one and make it 7-2 after four.
In the sixth inning Mervosh led off with a double and after a single by Jack Borgmann and Littrell was hit by a pitch the bases were loaded. Brooks Richardson was hit by a pitch, and Laessig followed with a single, each scoring a run.
Trenton Barry delivered a sacrifice fly, scoring another run, and Ian Luce doubled down the left-field line to pull WU within one at 7-6.
After a second straight scoreless inning by pitcher Fidel Hatch the Ichabods got back to work at the plate.
Doubles from Easton Wasinger and then Borgmann tied the game at seven.
Littrell slashed a single down the right-field line, scoring Borgmann to put Washburn in front 8-7.
The next half inning Northwest Missouri strung together four straight baserunners, scoring two on a one-out single into left to go back in front.
However, the lead was short lived, with Barry working a leadoff walk in the eighth and Luce slashing a double to left-center, tying the game at nine.
With two outs Borgmann slashed another double into the outfield, scoring Luce to put Washburn in front.
After entering in the eighth and recording the final two outs, Washburn's Griffin Huiatt stayed on the mound in the ninth and sat down the Bearcats in order to secure the 10-9 win.
Northwest Missouri State out-hit the Ichabods 13-12 while walks went in favor of Washburn, 7-5. Each team committed one error in the contest.
Three pitchers combined to throw all nine innings for the Ichabods. Hatch took over for Caleb Lunnon after three innings, he tossed 4.1 with three runs allowed an a strikeout.
Huiatt secured the win with 1.2 scoreless and a pair of punchouts.
At the plate Borgmann went 3-4 with a pair of doubles, two RBI and three runs scored. Laessig went 3-4 while driving in three and Luce went 2-3 with two RBI and two walks. Mervosh also reached four times with two hits and a pair of walks.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University softball hits the road Friday for a 2 p.m. MIAA doubleheader against No. 17-ranked Central Oklahoma.
The Ichabods enter the weekend 24-9 overall after going 1-3 in their opening MIAA action last weekend after being swept by Northeastern State last Friday and splitting a twinbill with No. 18-ranked Rogers State on Saturday.
Washburn sophomore Makenzie Sais leads the nation in stolen bases entering Friday's twinbill at Central Oklahoma. [File photo/TSN]
Sophomore Makenzie Sais became the Ichabods' single-season leader in stolen bases earlier this season and enters the weekend with a nation-best 55 steals, 25 ahead of the No. 2-ranked player on the chart.
The MIAA single-season record is 65 by Becca Alt from Missouri-Rolla (now Missouri S&T) set in 1997. Sais' 55 stolen bases are second on the MIAA top-10 single-season chart.
Sais' 72 career stolen bases at Washburn trail Torrie Beauchamp's 87 steals from 1996-1999 and Marrit Mead's 96 from 2021-24.
Sais is also eighth in the nation in hits with 44 and 13th in runs scored with 33.
WU's Dalaney Anderson is 10th in the nation with 40 RBI and she is 18th in home runs with eight.
Seaman product Aspen Burgardt is 28th in runs scored with 30 and she is 40th in the nation in home runs with seven.
Pitcher Sadie Walker is third in the nation in shutouts with five and she is ninth in strikeouts with 96.
As a team the Ichabods are ranked fifth in the NCAA with 59 doubles while also ranking seventh in hits (283), eighth in RBI (189), 11th in shutouts (7), ninth in stolen bases per game (2.85), second in stolen bases (94), second in walks (141) and seventh in total runs (212).
Central Oklahoma is 22-5 and has won its last four games going into the weekend. Friday's doubleheader against the Ichabods will be the Bronchos' first two MIAA games of the season.
Brooklyn Ryan leads UCO with a .402 batting average, leading the team with 35 hits.
Shelby Beard is 11-3 in the pitcher's circle with a 2.87 ERA in 19 appearances and Carleigh Kinnaird is 10-1 with a 3.56 ERA.
The Ichabods return to Gahnstrom Field next weekend, hosting Missouri Southern on March 27 and Pittsburg State on March 28 in MIAA doubleheaders.
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.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn junior Jack Bachelor drives for a basket in Saturday's 64-62 NCAA Central Regional loss to Minnesota-Duluth. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Senior Bryson Smith led Washburn with 15 points in Saturday's 64-62 NCAA Central Regional loss to Minnesota-Duluth. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Sophomore Tyson Ruud (2) scored 12 points for Washburn in Saturday's 64-62 NCAA Central Regional loss to Minnesota-Duluth. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
MIAA Tournament MVP Jack Bachelor hoists the championship trophy Sunday after Washburn's 91-59 win over Rogers State. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Washburn coach Brett Ballard cuts down the nets after the Ichabods' MIAA Tournament championship Sunday in Kansas City, Mo. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
MANKATO, Minn. -- No. 5 seed Washburn University women's basketball saw its season come to an end Friday night in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Central Region tournament with a 64-55 loss to No. 4 seed Central Missouri.
Senior Yibari Nwidadah ended her Washburn career with a team-high 14 points in Friday's 64-55 NCAA Central Regional loss to Central Missouri in Mankato, Minn. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods ended the season 24-8 record with an MIAA Tournament Championship.
"It's hard to swallow right now because I know how much our team and our players wanted (a win), but I think the standard has been re-set in our program and a couple of weeks and we'll get started to be back here again,'' Washburn coach Lora Westling said in her post-game press conference.
"That's what makes it difficult right now is that you have this tough game, but getting that 20-win season again and getting back into a championship scenario and getting back into the regional tournament for the first time in 13 years, geez we have so much to be proud of and so much to be grateful for. I think that speaks for itself.''
Washburn opened the game with a hot start, leading 6-3 after the second bucket of the game for senior Yibari Nwidadah in the first four minutes.
The Jennies (26-6) would come back to tie the game at eight to start what would turn into a 11-2 run to end the first quarter with UCM leading 16-10.
Nwidadah opened the second quarter with an old-fashioned three-point play that cut the Jennies' lead in half, but the next 11 points came from Central Missouri as the lead reached 14 points at the 4:48 mark in the quarter.
A quick five-point burst from Kellyn Hunter inside the final three minutes helped bring the Central Missouri lead back down to single digits, sending the Ichabods to halftime trailing 29-22.
Both sides traded baskets out of the break with the deficit staying between seven and 11 points until a 4-0 burst by the Jennies pushed the lead back up to 13.
Washburn senior Payton Sterk drained 3-pointers on back-to-back trips down the court, cutting the WU deficit back down to seven points with 4:07 left in the quarter.
A steal and a score from Hunter brought Washburn within five, but that was answered by five straight for Central Missouri as it went into the fourth leading 50-41.
The fourth quarter started like the third with alternating baskets on each side.
Washburn shot it efficiently, going 6-14 in the quarter, but could not connect from deep going 0-7 from 3-point range in the comeback attempt.
Madelyn Amekporfor got a layup to go inside of two minutes that made it an eight-point game for the first time all quarter, but that was as close as the Ichabods would get as the Jennies held on to post the nine-point win.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University women's basketball makes its return to the NCAA Tournament as the No. 5 seed in the Central Region, where the Ichabods will square off with the No. 4 seed Central Missouri for a fourth time this season and the second straight game at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Mankato, Minn.
Washburn is back in the NCAA Tournament field for the 18th time in program history and the first time since the 2012-2013 season.
Washburn women's basketball celebrates its MIAA Tournament championship with a team dogpile after Sunday's 53-44 win over top seed Central Missouri. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Friday's Washburn-Central Missouri game is a rematch of Sunday's MIAA Tournament championship game, won by the Ichabods, 53-44.
And while playing the Jennies again in just five days is not a ideal situation, Washburn junior Madelyn Amekporfor said the Ichabods will be trying to duplicate the performance they put together on Sunday.
"I think when we played them on Sunday in the championship, that was one of the best defensive games we've had all year and it was fun honestly, playing together, playing for each other,'' Amekporfor said. "It was so fun, so I know that it's not ideal but we're excited for that challenge and excited to go out and do it again and hopefully execute our game plan even better than we did on Sunday because I know we're ready for it.''
Washburn, now 24-7, won its 10th MIAA Tournament championship in program history.
Central Missouri heads to the NCAA Tournament with a 25-6 record overall after going 17-2 inside the MIAA. The Jennies' loss to Washburn snapped a 13-game UCM winning streak.
Sunday's win came after the Jennies had topped Washburn twice in the regular season and Amekporfor knows Friday will be another battle.
"We definitely know what's at stake and we're wanting to succeed so much for our seniors because they've done so much for this program,'' Amekporfor said. "They just give it their all every day, so I know making it to the national tournament was big for them, big for us and big for our program.
"I think UCM is going to be a great first game for us just because we have our heads up from this weekend and we know what we have to do to beat them. We know we have to execute and give it our all, so I think we're very confident now.''
Washburn coach Lora Westling said the Ichabods' goals this weekend would be the same no matter who they drew in the regional.
"We've told our players it doesn't matter who you play, it's about you and how well you execute and perform, how ready you can be for the day at hand,'' Westling said. "That's no different if its Central Missouri or whoever else we would have gotten lined up with. The approach is no different.
"I think that's what we've been focusing on is just it's business as usual for how we're preparing.''
The Ichabods are 26-16 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and 23-12 in the Central Region Tournament. Washburn is 9-3 in the opening round game of the regional.
The NCAA Central Region Tournament will be held between Friday and Sunday in the Taylor Center. The championship game is set for 7 p.m. on Monday, March 16.
With a win on Friday, the Ichabods would face the winner of the quarterfinal game between No. 1 seed Minnesota State and No. 8 Minnesota Duluth on Saturday.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- It's hard to beat the same team three straight times in a season.
And sometimes it's impossible.
Washburn celebrates its MIAA Tournament championship after Sunday's 53-44 win over top seed Central Missouri in Kansas City, Mo. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Central Missouri women's basketball beat Washburn University twice in the regular season en route to the MIAA regular-season championship, with the Jennies the only conference opponent to sweep the Ichabods.
But No. 3 seed Washburn gained a big measure of revenge over top seed Central Missiouri in Sunday's MIAA Tournament championship game, with the Ichabods rallying from a nine-point deficit in the first half to take a 53-44 win and clinch the conference's automatic berth for the NCAA Tournament.
Washburn women's basketball celebrates its MIAA Tournament championship with a team dogpile after Sunday's 53-44 win over top seed Central Missouri. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
"Hats off to Central Missouri,'' said Washburn coach Lora Westling. "They played a great game and they're tough as nails, but my players, my team just continue to show how much depth we have, the selflessness.
"We found a combination that worked tonight and that's been kind of the story of the last few weeks for us is finding the combination that works for the job that needs to be done. And I can't say enough about the humility that that takes to have that kind of game plan. We have so many of them sacrificing for a greater purpose and that paid off tonight in a championship.''
Sunday's win gave 24-7 Washburn, winners of nine straight games, its 10th MIAA Tournament title in program history and first since the 2011-12 season while seniors Yibari Nwidadah and Gabi Giovannetti were named to the MIAA All-Tournament team and Nwidadah was named the tournament's most valauble player.
Washburn is heading to the NCAA Tournament for the 18th time in program history and the first time since the 2012-13 season, earning the No. 5 seed in the Central Region. Washburn will now face No. 4 seed Central Missouri for a second straight game and fourth time this season in the first round on Friday in Mankato, Minn.
The Jennies (25-6) hit four 3-pointers in seven attempts in the first quarter en route to an 18-10 first-quarter advantage and Central Missouri pushed its lead to nine points in the second quarter before the Ichabods finished the half on a 9-2 run to trail by just a 25-23 margin at the half.
Junior Madelyn Amekporfor ended the first-half scoring for Washburn and also began the third stanza with a hoop to tie the game at 25 before Central Missouri scored the next four points.
Giovannetti hit Washburn's first 3-pointer of the game at the 5:48 mark to pull the Ichabods within a point and shortly thereafter sophomore Brooke Gomez converted an old-fashioned three-point play to put the Ichabods in front for the first time since the first five minutes of the game at 31-30.
The lead went back and forth five times the rest of the quarter and ended with Central Missouri hitting a pair of free throws to lead 36-35 going into the fourth quarter.
It was at that point that Washburn took control, scoring the first 10 points of the quarter, including back-to-back 3-pointers from senior Payton Sterk to build a 45-36 advantage with 5:32 left, as the Ichabods held the Jennies scoreless until the 4:38 mark of the quarter.
Central Missouri cut its deficit to six points with 1:48 left but never got closer as Giovannetti went six of six at the free throw line in the final 50.5 seconds to close out the championship with the nine-point decision.
The Ichabods won despite shooting just 27.4 percent from the field and hitting 3 of 13 3-point attempts as Washburn went 16-19 at the free throw line and limited Central Missouri to 30.6 percent shooting overall and 4-16 from deep.
Washburn was plus 10 in rebounding margin (45-35) while grabbing 16 offensive boards.
"I think the most fun part of it is I'm not surprised,'' Westling said. "I know maybe this group had a little slower start and had to kind of find our own footing, but they've just been electric on the defensive end the past few weeks and that's a hard sell to young people these days and they are defending with passion and they are playing together.''
Giovannetti scored a game-high 17 points, including a 10 of 10 performance at the free throw line, while also adding eight rebounds and two steals.
