Jace Washburn picked up his fifth win of the season and the 15th of his career Tuesday in an 11-5 win over Paris.
Making his sixths start of 2025, Washburn worked six innings, allowing five hits, four runs, only three of which were earned, but the final line does not do his outing justice.
Over four innings, Washburn had allowed just one hit, which came on the first pitch of the game.
Paris actually took a 2-0 lead in that inning, sandwiching a pair of walks around an error that scored one and a wild pitch that got another before the first of the Beracats' two double plays ended the inning.
It was Washburn who would get the Bearcats even. After Dylan Todd (2-for-3) singled, Washburn hit his second home run of the season to tie the game at 2-2.
Four second inning walks gave the Bearcats (9-6, 4-3 Conference 3A-4) the lead. Sadler Miller, who drew his first start of the season (shown), and Parker Smith started the inning with free passes.
A one-out bunt turned into an out at the plate but, with still two aboard, Rhett Nietert and Todd walked on eight straight pitches and it was 3-2.
Washburn issued a walk to start the Paris third but Smith threw the baserunner out attempting to steal. He started the fourth with another walk, but the second double play took care of that runner.
Parker Smith (3-for-3) lead off the Bearcat fourth with a single and advanced to second when it was misplayed in the outfield. Cutler Haller then bunted and reached for a base hit and runners were on the corners.
Clint Osborne drove in a run with a fly ball and a pair of two out errors allowed the Bearcats to extend the lead to 7-2.
An inning later Smith got to an Eagle reliever for this first of two doubles, and scored on a double by Nietert. A third double of the inning, by Todd, made it 9-2 and after a wild pitch added a run, Washburn singled made it 11-2 with a single.
The Eagle leadoff hitter singled for the second time to start the sixth. He eventually scored on a ground ball and it was 11-3.
Hayden Daniel singled and Smith doubled to put the Bearcats in a position to close the game out early but a strikeout and ground ball ended the threat without further damage.
It got a little tense in the top of the seventh as the first four Eagles recorded hits and it was 11-4. A wild pitch during a walk that ended Washburn's day made it 11-5.
Todd took over and sat down the Eagles' 2-4 hitters on strikes, one looking and two swinging.
The Bearcats are finished with conference play and will await the outcomes of a couple of games on Friday, one on Monday, and two more on Tuesday that will determine district tournament seeding. Lavaca will host the tournament starting on April 28.
On Thursday the Bearcats will take the field at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, the home of the Kansas City Royal's AA affiliate Northwest Arkansas Naturals, for a game against Elkins. Start time is 3:30.
WASHBURN GETS 5TH WIN OF SEASON, 15TH OF CAREER AGAINST PARIS
