WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State baseball team will look to build off a pair of victories when it takes on Southwest Minnesota State Thursday afternoon in games moved to Loughrey Field from Marshall, Minn. The Warriors then hit the road this weekend to take on Bemidji State on Saturday and Sunday.
LAST TIME OUT
The Warriors on Sunday dropped a doubleheader to Minnesota Duluth by scores of 13-7 and 14-8. WSU rallied Monday to turn the tables on Minnesota Duluth with 14-3, 13-4 wins of its own. Mitch Voter highlighted Monday's wins with 10 total RBI – including a grand slam and six RBI in game two. Jay Voter picked up his first win of the season in game one, while Joe Kubera got out of a bases loaded jam in relief to pick up the eventual win in the nightcap.
ABOUT THE MUSTANGS
The Warriors and Mustangs will be meeting for the 168th and 169th times dating back to 1970. The Warriors hold a 110-57 edge in series history after splitting a pair of games at Loughrey Field last season – a 10-8 game one win and a 10-7 game two loss. The Mustangs come to Winona with a record of 2-19 on the season with a 0-6 record in NSIC play. SMSU is led offensively by Jon Leighton's .377 batting average along with 26 hits, eight doubles, three home runs and 21 RBI. On the mound, Justin Clark (0-2) has a team-low 5.17 ERA with nine earned runs allowed in 15.2 innings pitched. Both of the Mustangs' wins have gone to Cole Petersen (2-2), who owns a 7.33 ERA.
ABOUT THE BEAVERS
The Warriors and Beavers will be meeting for the 193rd and 194th times dating back to 1957. The Warriors hold a 153-38-1 series edge over BSU after splitting a four-game series at Loughrey Field last season. Bemidji State hosts the Warriors sporting a 5-21 record overall with a 2-8 mark in NSIC play. The Beavers are led offensively by Tyler Nelson, who leads the team with a .400 average with 44 hits, 5 doubles, 4 triples, 4 home runs and 22 RBI with just seven strikeouts. On the mound, reliever – he's made one start – Nate Heisick is the club's best option, sporting a 3-3 record with a 3.33 ERA in 24.1 innings pitched.
LEAGUE LEADERS
Junior infielder Andrew Geislinger is tied for third in the NSIC this season with nine doubles. Junior outfielder Joe Kubera is tied for ninth with a pair of triples and seventh with six stolen bases, while Mitch Voter's 22 RBI is tied for 15th on the league leaderboard. On the mound, Jay Voter is seventh in the league with a 3.21 ERA while Daniel Karlin-Kamin is 16th with a 4.88 ERA. Mitch Stalsberg is fifth in the league in strikeouts, fanning 30 batters.
ON DECK
The Warriors continue their road swing next week, traveling to Wayne State for a Wednesday doubleheader before making the lengthy trip to Bismarck, N.D. to face U-Mary for a pair of twinbills on Saturday and Sunday.
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