Ichabods fall victim to hot bats in loss to Rockhurst Wednesday

March 7, 2007

Box Score | Season Stats



The Ichabods left 14 runners on base and gave up seven extra-base hits as they fell, 17-9 Wednesday afternoon to Rockhurst at Falley Field. Washburn committed five errors and gave up five innings of three-plus runs, falling to 1-2 while the Hawks improved to 5-5. The Ichabods will resume action Saturday with a doubleheader with NCAA Division I Western Illinois at 1 p.m. and then the single game with UWI Sunday has moved from a noon start to a 1 p.m. start.

After both teams went down easy in the first inning the Ichabods started their half of the second by loading the bases with no outs. After a strikeout freshman Wes Joy grounded out to first base to drive in junior Zach Walton and Washburn had a 1-0 lead.

The lead would turn out to be short-lived and the only one the Ichabods would enjoy. In the top of the third Rockhurst scored four runs on three hits and an error. The Hawks then got three more in the top of the fifth on four more hits and an error to go up 7-1.

Washburn got four runs of its own in the bottom of the fifth when RU pitcher Tom McVey hit two straight batters and then Walton drove in a run on a sacrifice fly. Junior Tyler Blankenship walked to load the bases and then junior Nathan Proctor walked in a run. Junior Nick Barnes stepped to the plate and did the exact same thing. At this point the Ichabods had sent eight straight batters to the plate without registering a hit.

The ninth batter in the inning, Joy singled to right field to drive in Blankenship and cut the RU lead to 7-5. The Ichabods sent 10 batters to the plate that inning and scored four runs on one hit, two walks, two hit batters, a sacrifice fly and an error.

Starting pitcher Randy Wild was replaced at the top of the sixth by fellow senior Eric Dales. He pitched 2/3 of that inning and gave up four runs on four hits as the Hawks went up 11-5.

The Ichabods got within three by adding three more in the sixth but the Hawks added three-run innings in the eighth and ninth to put the game out of reach.

Wild (1-1) was credited with the loss after giving up seven runs, four earned and seven hits in five innings. McVey only went 4 and 2/3 innings and though he left with his team ahead, he was not given the win since he did not pitch the minimum five. RU’s final reliever, Jordan Meyers was given the win in his first decision of the year. He started the game at third base and ended the day 3 for 5 at the plate with six RBI off a pair of home runs. On the mound he pitched three innings, giving up four hits and a run.

Junior Tommy Mangino was hit by three pitches in the game and scored three times. He joined Proctor with a pair of hits each and Barnes led the team with three RBI.