WINONA, Minn. – Winona State (21-6, 2-0 NSIC) started the conference season with a sweep of the Upper Iowa Peacocks (9-12, 0-2 NSIC) on Tuesday. The Warriors won game one 9-0 before winning 9-3 in the second game of the day.
GAME ONE
Big Inning, Long Balls Propel Warriors
The Warriors could not take advantage of a pair of walks in the bottom of the first inning as three straight outs ended the scoring chance. Winona State would come through in the bottom of the second, taking advantage of three straight walks to start the half inning. By the end of the inning the Warriors had scored seven runs.
After the inning started with three straight walks,
Jaida Reynen singled through the right side driving in
Mariah Schultz and Sam McLean.
Katelyn Kolb doubled to the wall in right field, driving in both O'Herron and Reynen.
Paige Keegan drove in the fifth run of the inning with her single to right field.
Lani Van Zyl made it 7-0 with a homerun over the field in left center.
Winona State had a pair of runners on base in the third through fifth innings but could not get a run across the plate. In the meantime,
McKenna Larsen continued to shut down the Peacocks, allowing just three hits in the final four innings of play. After two quick outs in the sixth inning, McLean drew a walk. The game would end four pitches later as
Mariah Schultz connected for her third homer of the year, giving WSU a 9-0 win.
Larsen finished the shutout win, her ninth win of the season, with five hits allowed and five strikeouts.
GAME TWO
Crooked Numbers in Middle Innings Give Warriors the Sweep
In the second game of the day, Winona State got on the board in the bottom of the first.
Jamee Schleis singled and stole second with one out to kick start the Warriors. After moving to third on a ground out,
Paige Keegan drove in Schleis with an infield to single, giving WSU a 1-0 lead.
A pair of hits batsmen would help the Warriors add to their lead in the second. The Warriors would double their lead when Kolb hit a ground ball to second. The Peacock defender tried to get the out at home but the throw was late as Schultz touched home ahead of the throw. Upper Iowa did get out of the inning before the Warriors did any more damage, stranding three runners on.
The Peacocks tied the game with two outs in the top of the third when Sammy Garrett hit a ball over the fence in left center. The game did not stay tied long, the Warriors scored four runs in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead. O'Herron got the scoring started by driving in McLean with a single up the middle. Reynen kept things going, doubling to right center and driving in O'Herron and Schultz. Kolb made it back-to-back doubles, driving in Reynen and putting WSU up 6-2
The Warriors would add three more runs in the bottom of the fourth, to take a 9-2 lead. O'Herron again got the Warriors going, this time with a single to center, driving in Van Zyl. Reynen picked up an RBI for the second straight inning with a sac fly to center field driving in McLean. The final run of the inning scored on an error.
Upper Iowa would get a run back in the top of the fifth but no more as Winona State held on for a 9-3 win.
Jordyn Kleman got her seventh win of the year, striking out 13 in seven innings of work.
This weekend the Warriors host Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday at 1 p.m. and then take on Sioux Falls on Sunday at 1 p.m.
