Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The Washburn Ichabods hit five home runs and four pitchers combined to throw a seven-hitter in a 16-3 (8 innings) win over Nebraska-Kearney Saturday afternoon at Memorial Field.
 
Washburn (17-12, 12-7) jumped out to a 5-0 first inning lead as they had four hits in its first at bat. Three of the hits left the yard, including back-to-back shots by third baseman Kyle Carnahan (3 for 6, two runs & two RBI's) and catcher David Gauntt (2 for 4, two runs).
 
Later, the Ichabods scored three in the fourth, two in the fifth and five more in the eighth. A 17-hit attack saw pinch hitter Cole Gardner have a Grand Slam with reserve first baseman Kyle Casey going 2 for 4 with two runs and four RBI's. 
 
On the mound, starters Mike Hefferan improved to 4-2 by allowing three earned on five hits and two walks over five innings. Fanning four, he gave way to a bullpen that allowed just two hits over the final three frames.
 
UNK (12-16, 9-10) had four of its seven hits in a three-run sixth. Sophomore infielder Josh Estrada (Houston, Texas) had an RBI in the inning, as did redshirt freshman left fielder Pate Katechis (Longmont, Colo.).
 
Among other Loper underclassmen, redshirt freshman catcher Tanner Kirkpatrick (Longmont, Colo.) went 2 for 3 in his first career start with redshirt freshman Phoenix Stevenson (Grand Island H.S.) having a pinch hit single to right in the eighth. That marks the catcher's first collegiate hit.
 
Finally, Beatrice junior Derek Clausen didn't allow an earned run over two innings of relief work.
 
The series finale starts Sunday at 2:00 p.m.