Topeka, Kan. – The Missouri Western baseball team earned a split of their four-game series at No. 21 Washburn Sunday, dropping the final game of the series, 12-5.

The loss leaves Missouri Western with a 16-9 overall record and an 11-5 mark in the MIAA.

Washburn jumped out to a 5-0 lead, getting two home runs in the third, one a three-run shot and the other a two-run homer. Those five runs chased starter Matt Russell from the game. He went three innings and gave up five runs on five hits. Kyle Kelly entered in relief, going two innings and allowing three earned runs on four hits. A.J. Martinez allowed four earned runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning.

Down 5-0 going into the fourth, MWSU got one on an RBI single from Andrew Ramirez and Dylon Koch pushed one in when he grounded into a double play. In the fifth, MWSU got within two when David Glaude grounded into a double play that allowed Trevor LaHonta to score. Washburn went up 12-4 in the seventh on a two-RBI single and a two-RBI triple before the Griffons scored their final run in the ninth on an error that allowed LaHonta to score.

Mitch Thorman went 3-4 in the game with two runs scored and Cody Childs went 3-5. The loss evened Russell’s record to 2-2. The Griffons will travel to Kansas City to play Rockhurst on Tuesday before hosting Missouri Southern next weekend.

— MWSU Sports Information —