MINNEAPOLIS - Winona State played well into the night and early morning on Saturday, falling to both Minot State and Wayne State at US Bank Stadium. The Warriors fell 5-2 to Minot State in a game that started on Friday but did not end until Saturday morning. The second game of the trip started at 12:34 a.m. and by the time Wayne State had held on for the 7-5 win, the clock red 3:17 a.m.
vs Minot State
The Beavers scored a first inning run to take an early lead thanks to a two out double to center field. Winona State took a bit to get the offense going, going down in order in the first and second innings. In the bottom of the third,
Derek Martin drew a one out walk before
Michael Hommes singled through the right side, putting a runner in scoring position.
Joe Kubera came through with a two-out single to left driving in Martin and tying the game.
Minot State retook the lead in the fifth inning with a two-run homer, just inside the foul pole in left field. Winona State had back-to-back singles with one out in the seventh, matching their game total in hits and threatening to cut into the two-run deficit. However, the threat was quickly erased as the Warriors flew out down the line in right and lined out to the left fielder to end the inning.
In the eighth inning, the Beavers tacked on an insurance run with a one-out RBI single up the middle. Winona State put a pair of runners on base in the eighth with one out but once again, the Warriors could not come up with the hit to cut into the Beavers lead.
vs Wayne State
Winona State threatened to score early in the first after
Jesus Cazares singled through the right side advancing
Joe Kubera to third with just one out. Wayne State pitcher Aiden Breedlove halted the scoring threat striking out the next to Warrior batters.
Lucas Crimmins took the mound for WSU in the bottom half of the first. Crimmins set down the final two Wildcat batters swinging following a groundball out and a walk to begin the inning.
Andrew Pliner reached first on an error to begin the top of the second inning. He would advance on a fielder's choice, before a strikeout brought the Warriors to two outs.
Michael Hommes doubled down the line scoring Pliner. Moments later,
Treyton Larson would score Hommes on a single to right giving Winona State a 2-0 lead. Crimmins made quick work of the Wildcats in the second getting his third strikeout in a row which led to double play following a single.
The Warriors were able to get runners on first and second to begin the third inning of play. However, a double play preceded a strikeout, ending WSU hopes of scoring. Wayne State was able to crack the scoreboard as a one out ground rule double by Cody Jenkins scored two, tying the game. David Janes singled two batters later, scoring one before Jenkins would score on a throwing error pushing the advantage to two runs.
Kipp Youngquist drew a leadoff walk to begin the Warrior half of the fourth, but Breedlove set down the next three batters ending the inning.
Parker Holmstrom took the mound following two hit batters and a walk as Wayne State loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the inning. A sac fly scored one before another hit batter loaded bases once again. A second fly out would score one more extending the WSU deficit to 6-2.
A leadoff single from Kubera didn't amount to a run in the fifth as a fielder's choice and a double play ended the top half of the inning. A two out walk would load the bases for the third time in two innings for WSC before another hit batter scored a run.
Pliner and Youngquist both singled with one out before
Chad Herbst reached on an error scoring Pliner. A single from
Mitchell Heid drove in Youngquist before a fielder's choice moments later allowed Herbst to touch home bringing the score to 7-5.
Aaron Mutter took over pitching duties in the sixth surrendering a leadoff walk before getting the next three outs in order.
The first two Warrior batters were set down in the eighth before Larson would reach on an error. Larson was thrown at second moments later on his stolen base attempt ending the inning.
Derek Masberg was able to work out of a no out, bases loaded jam in the bottom of the eight as be induced a double play before a groundout would end the inning.
The Warriors entered the final inning down two. The first two Warrior batters went down on strikes before a walk and a ground out ended the contest.
By: Jake Thiede
