WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State softball team split its doubleheader with Minnesota State Tuesday afternoon in Winona. The Warriors dropped a 1-0 10-inning game in the opener before rebounding for a 3-1 win in the nightcap.
GAME ONE: Minnesota State 1, WSU 0 (10 inn.)
In a phenomenal pitchers' duel, it was the Mavericks that finally pushed across the game's first and only run in the top of the 10th inning on a bases-loaded walk issued by Hanna Lythberg.
Both Lythberg (15-6) and MSU's Coley Ries were stifling their opponents throughout the game. Lythberg scattered just six hits in 10 innings while striking out four and walking five, while Ries struck out 24 batters with just three walks.
Ries had a no-hit bid going into the seventh inning before Jamee Schleis recorded WSU's lone hit of the game, lining a single up the middle, but the Warriors were unable to muster any more offense.
GAME TWO: WSU 3, Minnesota State 1
Senior Natalie Kalmes smashed a two-run home run in the first inning to provide the difference maker in game two. The Mavericks got a run back in the fourth with an RBI double, but Jamee Schleis put the Warriors back up by two with a fifth inning RBI single that scored Reed Karsten – who reached base on a fielding error and eventually was on third after advancing all the way from first thanks to two more Maverick fielding miscues.
The Warriors received another terrific pitching performance, this time from McKenna Larsen (7-3), who picked up the win after allowing just three hits and no earned runs while fanning six batters in a complete game win.
Kalmes, Larsen and Lani Van Zyl each went 2-for-3 at the plate in the game two victory.
Winona State (28-12, 10-7 NSIC) returns to Alumni Field this weekend for doubleheaders against MSU Moorhead and Northern State on Saturday and Sunday with first pitch set for 1 p.m. each day.
