WINONA, Minn. – Winona State (35-8, 16-2 NSIC) took a pair from St. Cloud State (25-19, 9-9 NSIC) on Friday, winning game one 5-0 and then taking game two 3-0.
McKenna Larsen and
Jordyn Kleman each threw complete game shutouts in the sweep.
GAME ONE
Larsen Cuts Down Huskies
Thanks to an error the Warriors loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the second. A strikeout brought up the top of the lineup with two down and three Warriors on base. Unfortunately, another a strikeout occurred and the game went to the third scoreless.
McKenna Larsen and
Lani Van Zyl hit back-to-back singles to start the bottom of the third.
Mariah Schultz got hit for the 19
th time this season to load the bases with nobody out. Ali Nowak drew a walk to pick up an RBI and put WSU up 1-0.
Paige Keegan hit a ball to the second baseman, the throw home wasn't in time and the Warriors went up 2-0. Another 6-2 putout kept the game at 2-0 but the bases stayed loaded. Another ground ball to the shortstop ended the inning.
The Warriors had a scoring chance in the bottom of the fifth, putting a pair of runners on with one out.
Samantha McLean drove in
Shaye Witte to give WSU a 3-0 lead.
Winona State looked to add to their lead in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with one out. Keegan drove in Schultz with a single to left field, giving WSU a four run lead. Alyson O'Herron continued the rally, driving in Nowak with a single through the left side.
Larsen threw all seven innings, earning the shutout, her sixth of the season. She lowered her ERA to 0.84 while striking out three. She did not give up an extra base hit.
GAME TWO
Kleman Allows Just Two Hits in Shutout
Alison Nowak led off the home half of the second with a bomb over the fence in center, putting WSU up 1-0. The Warriors threatened again in the bottom of the third but did not score and the game moved to the top of the fourth.
In four innings of work
Jordyn Kleman had allowed just one hit, keeping the Huskies scoreless. Nowak drew a leadoff walk to start the Warriors half of the fourth.
Megan McCabe pitch ran and reached second on a sac bunt. McCabe would come home to score on a double by Keegan, doubling the Warriors lead. Keegan was thrown out at the plate to end the inning, trying to score on a single by O'Herron.
McLean and Larsen reached with one out in the fifth, both via singles. Van Zyl advanced them to second and third with a ground out to second. Nowak came through, driving in McLean with a single through the left side. Winona State would win the game by a final score of 3-0.
Kleman finished her seven innings of work with nine strikeouts, allowing just two hits. It was Kleman's seventh shutout this season.
