ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Missouri Western baseball team opened up the first round of the MIAA tournament against Washburn on Thursday night but fell in 10 innings 6-5.  The Ichabods lead the best-of-three series 1-0.

Washburn started their scoring off with two runs in the top of the third inning as Tanner Johnson walked to start the inning. He was driven in by Parker Gibson to score the first run of the game with a hit to centerfield. Riley Krane brought Gibson in on a single through the right side.

Missouri Western was able to tie the game up with one swing of the bat from Ryan Degner as he hit a two-run home run to right field.

The Ichabods earned their third run of the game as Corey Gragg picked up an RBI single to score Tanner Triggs

Missouri Western put together a three-run inning in the bottom of the fourth. Dylon Koch was the first to reach on an error by the second baseman. Seniors Trevor LaHonta, Ryan Degner, and Cody Childs all picked up RBIs in the inning.

Washburn evened up the score with one run coming in the fifth and seventh inning each. Krane opened up the seventh inning with a triple and eventually scored on a Kyle Carnahan single to the left side.

Pinch hitter Matt Sutliffe tallied his first hit of the season, scoring Wes Jones in the top of the 10th inning with a blop single to left field. The Griffons put two on in the bottom of the 10th but couldn’t find a way to get a run home.

Ryan Degner went 4-for-6 on the day including three RBIs and scoring two runs. Left fielder Orencio Fisher had three hits and five other Griffons recorded one hit.

The Griffons and Ichabods will face off in an elimination game starting at 6 p.m. on Friday night.

— MWSU Sports Information —