DULUTH, Minn. – After coming off a pair of comeback victories on Wednesday, the Winona State baseball team couldn't find the same comeback magic against Minnesota Duluth. The Warriors dropped both games of the doubleheader 3-2 and 7-4 Saturday at Bulldog Park in Duluth.
 
Despite the Warriors as a team having offensive struggles on the day, it was a strong day for Tyler Nehring, as he hit a combined 7-for-9 on the day from the plate.
 
In the first game Winona State trailed early as Minnesota Duluth took a 2-0 lead on a Spencer Diedrich two RBI single in the bottom of the second inning.
 
However, the Warriors cut the lead in half in the third inning as Travis Evanson slipped an RBI single to right field scoring Andrew Geislinger and making it a 2-1 game.
 
Winona State tied the game up in the sixth inning on a Nathan Krause RBI single, scoring Mitch Heid from second and making it a 2-2 ballgame.
 
The game went into extra innings and the Warriors had an opportunity to win the game. Nehring doubled to left field and Jesus Cazares was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with one out. However, the Warriors couldn't drive them in as Evanson struck out in the next at-bat and Jordan Plamann flied out to center field to end the WSU threat.
 
The Bulldogs were able to take advantage of a couple costly Warrior errors in the bottom of the ninth. After a strikeout to lead off the inning, UMD pinch hitter Matt Vogt reached on a fielding error by Kipp Youngquist. In the next at-bat, Alex Wojciechowski reached on an error by Heid, putting runners on first and second with one out.
 
This time, the Bulldogs came away with the clutch at-bat, as Kyle Comer hit an RBI single through the middle, scoring a walk-off hit for Minnesota Duluth.
 
Nehring, hitting 3-for-5 from the plate, led the Winona State offense. Cazares, Taylor Field, and Krause all had two hits in the game as well.
 
WSU starting pitcher Chase Blazier also had a solid outing on the day, pitching six innings giving up two earned runs on eight hits while striking out nine in a no-decision. Scott Freiburger took the loss for the Warriors, dropping to 2-1 on the season after giving up an unearned run in one-third of an inning on a hit with a strikeout.
 
The Warriors didn't have much luck in the second game either as they found themselves in an early 5-0 hole after two innings.
 
WSU starting pitcher Hayden Krimmer struggled early on, giving up five earned runs in two innings pitched, giving up five hits and for walks while striking out five in a loss.
 
The Warriors were able to chip into the lead, scoring a run in the fourth inning on a Heid sacrifice fly that scored Evanson from third to make it 5-1.
 
Winona State added another run in the sixth on a Plamann sacrifice fly, scoring Nehring from third and cutting the Bulldog lead to 5-2.
 
The Bulldogs got some well-needed insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, scoring two runs and making it a 7-2 game.
 
However, the Warriors would not go away as they put together a rally in the seventh inning. After loading the bases on consecutive walks and a single by Nehring, Cazares singled home Youngquist to make it 7-3.  Evanson added one more on a ground ball double play to make it 7-4.
 
Winona State was able to bring the tying run to the plate with Heid after Plamann drew a walk H, but he flew out to center field, ending the Warriors' comeback attempt.
 
Nehring closed out his solid day by going a perfect 4-for-4 from the plate with a run scored to lead the Warrior offense.
 
Despite Krimmer taking the loss, the Warriors got a strong showing out of the bullpen from Matt Bonestroo, pitching three scoreless innings. He gave up just two hits and a walk with two strikeouts.
 
With the losses, Winona State drops to 13-17 overall and 11-7 in NSIC play. The Warriors will try to bounce back against the Bulldogs on Sunday as they will play another doubleheader, this time with the venue moving to Wade Stadium in Duluth with first pitch set for 11 a.m.