TOPEKA, Kan. – The Missouri Western baseball team rallied on Friday but came up short as they lost their 4-game series opener at No. 21 Washburn 3-2.

The Griffons fell behind 3-0 but added two in the seventh, then left two on base in the eighth to drop their record to 14-8 overall and 9-4 in the MIAA.

The 21st ranked Ichabods got one run home in the first on a wild pitch then added two in the third on an RBI single and an RBI double. Grant Woods exited after the third; giving up three earned runs on four hits and wialking two, while striking out three. Weston Caindec entered in relief and shut the door on the Ichabods for the next five innings. Caindec allowed five hits, while striking out six and walking two.

Cosimo Cannella put the Griffons on the board in the seventh, driving Mitch Thorman home with a single to left. Later in the inning, Andrew Ramirez’s ground out brought Dylon Koch in to bring MWSU within one. Cody Childs led off the eighth with an infield single and advanced to second on a passed ball. After two straight outs, David Glaude drew a walk to put two for Andy Rieth, who was pinch hitting for Thorman, but Rieth flied out to left to end the MWSU threat.

Childs finished 2-4 on the day and was the only Griffon with more than one hit. Cannella and Ramirez picked up the RBIs. The loss dropped Woods to 1-2 on the year. The two teams will do it again in a doubleheader, Saturday, beginning at 2 p.m.

— MWSU Sports Information —