WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State Warriors (2-10, 2-0 NSIC) returned home to Maxwell-Loughery Field for the first time this season as they faced off against the University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles (6-8, 0-2 NSIC). An 11-strikeout shutout performance from Warrior starting pitcher Mitchell Stalsberg paved the way for Winona State's first victory on the season, winning 3-0. The Warriors would take game two 3-2 thanks to a walk off hit from Mitchell Heid.
 
Stalsberg's complete game shut out sets down Crookston
 
Stalsberg got the start for the Warriors in the home opener, he would scatter a hit in the opening inning but kept Minnesota Crookston off the board. Crookston pitcher Cody Pamperin faced the top of the Winona State order in the bottom of the first. Joe Kubera connected with the ball sending a single to left center field. Kubera stole second and advanced to third on an errand throw. The Warriors couldn't get Kubera home as a groundout ended the inning.
 
Andrew Pliner singled to shortstop to begin the bottom half of the second as he beat the throw to first. Two fly outs and a single brought Treyton Larson to the plate with a pair of runners on. Laron reached via an infield single to load the bases. Michael Hommes hit a laser to right for a double in the next at bat scoring two runs. A fly out to center would end the inning a batter later as the Warriors took a 2-0 lead.
 
The Golden Eagles went down in order in the third, as a strikeout, ground out and fly out ended the inning. The Warriors followed suit, as a groundout, fly out and a line out ended the hitless third inning of play.
 
Stalsberg set Crookston down in order for the second straight inning as he recorded his seventh straight out. The Warriors also went down one, two, three in consecutive innings on two strikeouts and a ground out.
 
Zach Frazier ended Stalsberg's consecutive out streak with a walk before Mitchell Bonrhauser singled putting runners on first and third with none out. Stalsberg countered with back-to-back strikeouts before a groundout would allow him to escape the inning scoreless.
 
Kubera again something started for the Warriors, reaching first on a walk and later advanced to second on a passed ball and the got to third on a wild pitch. Jesus Cazares scored Kubera with a double off the right field wall making the score 3-0. A fly out to deep right center ended the inning one batter later.
 
Stalsberg was able to get out of another jam in the sixth inning getting two straight outs with runners on first and third. Winona State was sent down in order with two groundouts and a strikeout.
 
Stalsberg took the mound once again in the seventh and final inning of game one looking for a complete game shutout. Stalsberg reached double digits in strikeouts as he struck out the side in the final inning and Winona State took game one over Crookston winning 3-0.
 
Walk off heroics seal comeback victory.
 
Hayden Krimmer took the mound to start game two for Winona State looking to emulate the previous games pitching performance. The Golden Eagles had other ideas as lead-off batter Anthony Stewart singled through the right side before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt. James Cullinane singled up the middle scoring Stewart. Once on base, Cullinane advanced to second with a stolen base. Ethan Mushitz singled to center with two outs scoring Cullinane and putting Crookston up 2-0.
 
Krimmer settled in well after the first inning and set down the side in order in the top of the fourth, striking out the first two batters before a fly out to right ended the inning. Crookston pitcher Cody Pamperin followed the hitless top of the inning with a hitless bottom of the inning forcing two groundouts and notching a strikeout.
 
A pop out and two ground outs lead to a second consecutive one, two, three inning as Krimmer set down his eighth batter in a row. The Warriors couldn't muster a baserunner in the fifth inning either as Pamperin struck out one in-between two fly outs.
 
Krimmer hit his stride in the middle innings, setting down the Golden Eagles in order with three groundouts, capped off by a diving stop by third baseman Kipp Youngquist, as Krimmer set down 11 consecutive batters. Michael Hommes singled up the middle in the bottom of the inning but Pamperin was able to keep Winona State scoreless, inducing a fly out in the next at bat.
 
Zach Frazier ended Krimmer's consecutive out streak drawing a walk to begin the seventh inning. A sacrifice bunt advanced Frazier to second before a strikeout and a ground out ended the inning. Looking to continue his shutout, Pamperin registered the first two outs of the bottom of seventh; a walk put Taylor Field on base before a fly out ended the inning.
 
Aaron Mutter took over pitching duties for the Warriors in top of the eighth inning. Mutter held Crookston scoreless in the inning inducing a ground out and notching a strikeout before Martin made a diving catch at shortstop to end the inning.  Back-to-back errors by the Golden Eagles put runners on first in second to begin the bottom of the eighth. A sacrifice bunt by Treyton Larson advanced both runners a base with one out. Kubera ended the shutout singling to second base and driving in Youngquist, while Chad Herbst advanced to third. A wild pitch allowed Herbst to score, tying the game at two. A strikeout ended the inning as the game entered the ninth tied at two.
 
Mutter took the mound once again in the ninth, looking to keep the game tied. Ethan Mushitz singled in the innings first at bat before a sacrifice bunt advanced him to second. Mushitz was caught stealing third a batter later, and the game went to the ninth tied at two.
 
Field drew a one out walk in the home half of the ninth. Heid roped a double to deep right center, and Field was safe diving for home giving the Warriors a 3-2 in walk off fashion.
 
The same two teams meet again tomorrow at 12 p.m. for another doubleheader.
 
By: Jake Thiede