PITTSBURG -- The Washburn University baseball team built early inning leads against Pittsburg State University and held off a late rally by the Gorillas for a 9-6 MIAA series opening victory Friday night (Apr. 28) at Al Ortolani Field.

The Ichabods plated two runs in the top of the first against Gorillas starter Zac Shoemaker (8-2) and tacked on four more runs for a 6-1 advantage in the fourth. WU (28-19, 20-11) hitters pounded out 13 hits in the contest, including a three-run home run by Otto Jones and a two-run shot by Ike Book. Jones also doubled in the contest, while Book paced the Ichabods with four hits on the night.

Pitt State (30-16, 20-11 MIAA) rallied from a 9-2 deficit with a four-run seventh inning as Karson Coffee delivered a two-run double and Joe Hamilton followed with a two-run single in the frame. The Gorillas sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning and had the bases loaded with two outs before Daegan Brady went down on strikes to end the rally.

WU's Cal Leonard and Chase Torkelson combined to log the final seven outs for the Ichabods to seal the win. Torkelson earned his second save of the season behind starter Casey Steward (4-4).

Joe Hamilton led the Gorillas by going 4-for-5 at the plate. Jake Grauberger belted a solo home run for Pitt State.

The Gorillas and Ichabods will resume the series with a 2 p.m. (CDT) game Saturday (Apr. 29).