WAYNE, Neb. – Thanks to a great start from freshman
Tanner Haessly the Warriors earned a split with the Wayne State Wildcats (11-15, 6-8 NSIC) on Wednesday. Winona State (6-20, 6-10 NSIC) dropped the first game 11-4 but picked up a 5-0 win in the second game.
GAME ONE
Big Inning Costs Warriors
The Warriors jumped out in front in first game of the day, scoring three runs in the top of the first.
Jesus Cazares,
Mitchell Heid and
Kipp Youngquist all had RBI's in the first. Heid had the lone extra-base run producing hit, doubling in Cazares.
Wayne State started to chip away in the second, hitting a one out RBI single to center. The Wildcats would score three times on three hits. A two-out, two run single put them in front 4-3.
After the Warriors went down in order in the fifth, the Wildcats exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the inning. Wayne State had seven hits, including six straight in the inning. The big blow was a three-run triple with two outs to put the Wildcats up 11-3.
Taylor Field had a RBI single, driving in
Chad Herbst in the seventh but the Warriors wouldn't get any more runs, falling 11-4. Field, Youngquist and Herbst all had two hits for WSU in game one.
GAME TWO
Haessly, Holmstrom Shut Down Wildcats
The second game of the day started with two scoreless innings that saw just one hit. Things changed slightly in the top of the third when
Derek Martin scored from third on a wild pitch; he had reached via a one out double to right center. Wayne State had a runner reach in the bottom of the inning but didn't get on the board.
Martin would drive in the Warriors second run of the inning with his two-out double to left in the top of the fifth. The Wildcats loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth but Haessly worked out of the jam to keep WSC off the board.
Another Warrior runner touched home in the seventh when Cazares scored following a throwing error.
Parker Holmstrom would replace Haessly in the seventh and did not allow the Wildcats to get anything going, pitching three perfect innings of relief. Meanwhile the Warriors continued to add to their lead.
In the top of the eight Winona State put together three straight, two-out hits to score their fourth run of the game. Cazares double to center allowed Larson to score.
Nathan Krause drove in Youngquist in the ninth to make the final score 5-0.
Haessly and Holmstrom allowed just three hits in nine innings. Haessly struck out five and Holmstrom struck out four. It was the first career start for Haessly.
This weekend the Warriors travel to take on Sioux Falls in a four game NSIC series.
