TOPEKA, Kan. - Griffon Baseball (5-19, 4-11 MIAA) clinched its first series of the season with a thrilling 5-4 victory in 12 innings against Washburn (13-14, 6-9 MIAA) at Falley Field on Saturday afternoon. This marks Western's first series victory over the Ichabods since 2018 and the first in Topeka since 2017.
 
Washburn took an early lead, scoring a run in the first inning and adding three more in the third to go up 4-0. However, Western answered back with three runs in the sixth inning and an RBI single from junior Anthony Taggart later in the ninth to tie the game at 4-4, forcing extra innings.
 
In the top 12th, junior Frank Gall added a spark with his third triple of the season. Senior Jackson Bryant drove in Gall for the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly RBI to give MWSU its first lead of the game. With runners on second and third in the bottom of the inning, Jacob Ross (2-2) sat down the final batter of the game to secure the one-run victory.
 
The Griffons finished the game with 10 hits. Taggart (2), Gall (2) and Carson Shear (2) each recorded multiple hits. Additionally, Gall led the team with two runs scored, while Kaden Doan and Quinton Robertson stole a base each.
 
Junior Logan Winkelman led the pitching staff with five strikeouts in 5.2 innings of work. Junior Lou Levy and redshirt freshman Jayson Shorb also provided solid showings on the bump in relief.
 
Missouri Western will return to action tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. for the series finale against the Ichabods.