Jared Bell’s walk off single in the bottom of the ninth inning in game two of the doubleheader helped the Griffons complete the four game MIAA sweep over the Washburn Ichabods. Western won game one 5-2 behind a complete game from Brandon Simmons and picked up the final victory 5-4. The Griffons improve to 19-9 overall and 12-6 in MIAA play.
Game 1: MWSU 5, WU 2
Five unanswared runs by the Griffons helped them come away with a 5-2 victory in game three of the series over the Washburn Ichabods.
The Ichabods got eight hits and left three runners on in the first three innings off Griffon right hander Simmons. Simmons gave up two runs on four hits in the second inning as Washburn took an early 2-0 lead.
The Griffons responded nicely in their half of the second getting three hits which led to three Griffon runs. Spencer Shockley opened the inning getting hit by a pitch before two singles by David Chew and Bubba Dotson loaded the bases with no one out. Shockley scored on a sacrafice fly by Tony Loeffler and Western tied the score at two on a sacrafice bunt by Shawn Egge. Loeffler later gave Western the lead at 3-2 when he scored on a hit by Michael Schulze.
Simmons settled down the rest of the game pitching his fifth complete game of the season improving to 6-2. He had three strikeouts and gave up 10 hits.
In the fourth Western got two insurance runs as Bubba Dotson tripled and scored on a Schulze’s third hit of the game. Loeffler scored the Griffons fifth run on a Jimmy Smelcer single to shortstop.
Schulze led the Griffons going 3-for-4 with one RBI while David Chew and Dotson both went 2-for-3.
The Ichabods were led by Jon Calhoun going 3-for-4 win an RBI. Tyler Bean suffered his first loss of the season going all six innings giving up five earned runs and eight hits while striking out three. Bean falls to 3-1 on the year.
Game 2: MWSU 5, WU 4
Bell’s walk off single in the bottom of the ninth inning scored Dotson from second giving Western teh 5-4 victory. The Griffons improve to 17-4 at home.
The Griffons got on the board in the first using a hit and a Washburn error scoring three runs. Western scored two runs on a throwing error by Ichabod pitcher Mark Biesma. The Griffons scored the third run on a sacrafice fly by Nate Ramler which scored Grant Fink.
Western went up 4-0 in the third capitalizing on another Ichabod error. Fink reached on an error by the center fielder and scored on a David Chew single.
The Ichabods battled back scoring two in the sixth off a Brad Alberts homer to left field. They scored two more in the seventh on four hits before Matt Bergin came in the game getting the final out of the inning.
Bergin shutdown the Ichabods the rest of the game picking up his second victory of the season going 2.1 innings giving up two hits and striking out one. Oliver Kady had an outstanding start going six innings giving up six hits and one earned run with four strikeouts.
The Ichabods fall to 13-12 overall and 9-9 in MIAA play. Washburn had 12 hits with Alberts going 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored. Boone Plager, Blake Hageman and Connor Crimmins all had two hits. Trent Speaker got the loss going six innings giving up three hits and one earned run.
Western returns to action on Friday, April 6 when they hit the road for the first time since the opening MIAA series of the year. They will be in Maryville, Mo. taking on the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats in a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1:00 pm.
— MWSU Sports Information —