MINOT, N.D. – The Winona State Warriors (4-18) traveled to North Dakota to take on the Minot State Beavers (13-6) on a Saturday double header. Despite a strong showing in the first game from Mitchell Stalsberg, who tallied 13 strikeouts in 6.2 innings pitched, late game heroics from the Beavers put them on top 3-2 on a walk off hit from Sean Alp. In the second game the Beavers used the long ball to win 5-3.
 
Game 1
Stalsberg's Strong Outing Not Enough as Beavers Win in Extra's
 
Tanner Alexander took the mound for Minot State in game one Saturday. Kipp Youngquist started things off as he reached on throwing error by the shortstop; he later stole second following a strikeout. A fly out and Jesus Cazares being hit by a pitch set up WSU with runners on first and second with two outs. Mitchell Heid singled to right center scoring Youngquist before a strikeout ended the inning with a 1-0 Warrior lead. Mitchell Stalsberg got the nod to start for Winona State as Justin Demary and Alp both singled before Demary would be thrown out at third on his stolen base attempt. After a hit batter, Stalsberg struck out the final two batters of the inning.
 
Michael Hommes tripled to right following a foul out to start the second, but Alexander was able to strand Hommes at third inducing a fly out to first and setting Youngquist down on strikes ending the inning scoreless. Trevaun Smith reached on a single in the home half of the second. Geordie McDougall singled to right center after a strikeout as the Beavers threatened to score. Stalsberg was able to work out of the inning striking out the final two batters of the inning.
 
Joel Kubera reached on a fielder's choice after a single by Treyton Larson but the Warriors were unable to increase their advantage as a ground out and a pop out ended the inning. Minot State got a baserunner on a single from Alp through the left side before he advanced to second on a passed ball. Stalsberg was once again able to get out of the inning scoreless, inducing a line out and striking out the final two batters swinging.
 
Alexander set down Winona State in order to begin the fourth inning notching two strikeouts and a foul out. Stalsberg continued his scoreless streak giving up just a single in the inning while also inducing a fly out and striking out two batters for the fourth inning in a row.
 
Winona State's post first inning scoring drought continued as Alexander to notched two more strikeouts ending the inning. Demary opened up the home half of the fifth with a double and Alp's sacrifice bunt advanced Demary. Stalsberg once again recorded two strikeouts, this time swinging, keeping the Beavers scoreless.
 
Following a fly out, Heid doubled, giving the Warriors a baserunner in scoring positon. A strikeout and a foul out ended Winona State's scoring threat. Stalsberg took the mound once again in the sixth as Celestino Rodriguez doubled down the right field line. Back-to-Back strikeouts threatened to strand Rodriguez at second before Stalsberg induced a ground out to shortstop.
 
A ground out and fly out brought WSU to two outs before Youngquist and Larson singled up middle threatening to increase their lead. Alexander worked out of the inning, getting the final out forcing Kubera to fly out to left. Stalsberg took the mound for the seventh inning looking for the complete game shutout versus the Beavers. Adams led off the inning with a walk before Demary was hit by a pitch putting runners of first on second. Alp grounded into a fielder's choice keeping runners on first and second with one out. Jordan Shulz singled to right scoring Demary and tying the contest at one apiece. Another single, this time from Michael Borst loaded the bases before Stalsberg induced a pop out for the second out. Derek Masberg came into the game, replacing Stalsberg in an attempt to reach extra innings; Masberg immediately forced a fly out to end the inning.
 
Heid led off extra innings with a double to right field before a lineout gave the Warriors one out. Nathan Krause knocked a single to right field scoring Heid as WSU took a 2-1 lead. Masberg stayed in the game in an attempt to shut down Minot State. Paul Vogelsang homered to left field to tie the game at two in the first at bat of the bottom of the eighth. Demary later reached on a fielder's choice after a ground out and a hit batter. Demary stole second before Alp RBI singled gave the Beavers a 3-2 win.
 
Game 2
Early Runs Not Enough as Warriors Fall in Game 2.
 
 
A one out single to right by Nick Nalewanski brought Larson to the plate as he tripled to left center scoring Nalewanski in the second inning. Martin reached on a throwing error during the next at bat allowing Larson to score as Winona State took an early 2-0 lead.
 
Alp reached base on a throwing error leading off the bottom of the third inning for MSU. Schulz was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second before Borst homered to left field giving Minot State a 3-2 advantage.
 
O'Rourke notched the first two outs of the fifth before a walk and a hit by pitch gave WSU baserunners. A fly out on the innings final at bat ended Winona State's scoring attempt. The Beavers mounted a two out rally in the bottom half of the fifth inning as a single from Alp and a double by Schulz brought Borst to the plate. He singled driving in Alp as BSU advantage reached 4-2.
 
Kubera was hit by a pitch before stealing second as he reached scoring position with no outs. Kubera then reached third on a wild pitch following back-to-back strikeouts. WSU couldn't drive in their third run as another strikeout ended the scoring threat. Krimmer took the mound once again in the fifth forcing a fly out before Adams homered to left field brining the score to 5-2. Krimmer got out of the inning following two fly outs.
 
A swinging strikeout led to a walk before Larson singled through the left side. The Warriors failed to score with two runners on base as O'Rourke notched a strikeout and a fly ball to end the top half of the sixth.
 
The Warriors entered the seventh and final inning down three looking to avoid the first day sweep. O'Rourke stayed in the game for Minot State in an attempt at a complete game. A lead off fly out by Kubera led to a Youngquist single to left field giving WSU a baserunner. Field followed with another single this time to second base, both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch one batter later. Cazares grounded out to third scoring Youngquist while allowing Field to advance to third, bringing the score to 5-3. O'Rourke was able to get out of the inning with the complete game victory ending the game with a strikeout.
 
By: Jake Thiede