WINONA, Minn. – The No. 22 Winona State softball team used a pair of late rallies to erase 3-1 deficits and earn 4-3 walk-off victories in both games of a doubleheader with Minot State on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at Alumni Field.
The scene was much the same in game one as it was in game two with early offensive struggles for the Warriors resulting in 3-1 leads for the Beavers late in the game, but clutch hits for the Warriors were enough to crawl back and prevent the Minot State upsets.
In game one the Beavers held a 3-1 lead heading into WSU's at-bats in the bottom of the sixth, but three late Minot State errors helped the Warriors get back in it. An Allyson O'Herron RBI single brought Natalie Kalmes home to cut the deficit to one and an error by the right fielder on the play allowed Jessica Kullmann to come home as well as WSU tied it up 3-3.
After a scoreless top of the seventh, the Warriors wasted little time ending the game after three straight singles. Lexi Perez led off the inning with a base hit to shortstop in a hard-fought at-bat, then a perfect bunt by Reed Karsten resulted in a single to put two runners on to set up Ashley Walker, who singled back to the pitcher before the Beavers' catcher sailed a throw to third base into left field and Perez scored to give WSU the 4-3 win.
Walker also got in on the heroics in game two. After the Beavers' added an insurance run in the top of the seventh to take a 3-1 lead, WSU needed yet another rally to stave off a split. Karsten led off the inning with a first-pitch double to left center before Walker crushed a 3-2 pitch over the left field wall for a game-tying home run. After Morgan Lintz struck out and McKenna Larsen grounded out, Kullmann coaxed a walk, then pinch runner Shannon Nelson stole second.
After a Kalmes walk brought up Allyson O'Herron, she'd send the Warriors home happy, singling to right field to bring home the speedy Nelson and give WSU its second straight 4-3, come-from-behind victory.
O'Herron had WSU's lone RBI in game one while Karsten recorded a pair of hits. In game two, Walker led the way with three hits in four at-bats while Walker and O'Herron recorded two RBI apiece.
The Warriors once again benefited from strong pitching as Walker and Hanna Lythberg each earned complete game victories. Walker improved to 15-3 on the season after giving up three earned runs on seven hits while striking out five and walking two. Lythberg followed up with a solid effort, allowing just two earned runs on four hits while fanning eight and walking a pair.
Winona State (33-8) prepares for a busy week as it will play eight games in six days, beginning with a Tuesday doubleheader at Minnesota State before returning home for a Thursday twinbill against Upper Iowa.
