SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Winona State (7-21, 7-11 NSIC) split a pair of games with Sioux Falls (11-15, 8-8 NSIC on Friday. After losing 3-2 in game one the Warriors outscored the Cougars to win the second game 9-7. The same two teams play another double header tomorrow starting at 1:30 p.m.
GAME ONE
Winona State Can't Overcome Early Deficit
Mitchell Stalsberg got the nod in the first game of the series, he would strikeout ten and give up just two hits but still earned the tough loss. The Cougars drew back-to-back walks to start the bottom of the first. A single to left put USF up one. An error on a fielder's choice made it 2-0. Three straight strikeouts got Stalsberg out of the jam.
Winona State tried to counter in the second.
Jesus Cazares started the inning with a double to center field. Unfortunately, he would get stranded on third. A two-out single in the bottom of the second allowed a third Cougar to score.
The game got quiet for a few innings; neither team would get a hit for the next two innings. The Warriors would get on the board in the top of the fifth inning.
Chad Herbst singled to center to start the rally.
Nathan Krause doubled to put a pair of runners on with nobody out. A fielder's choice loaded the bases prior to
Joe Kubera, drawing a walk and picking up an RBI. Krause would score a batter later on a double play. WSU would strand a runner on third but trailed by just one. Stalsberg kept rolling, striking out the side in the fifth inning.
The Warriors had a runner reach in the top of the seventh with two outs but could not get any more runs, dropping the game 3-2.
GAME TWO
Warriors Win High Scoring Affair
It didn't take long for the Warriors to score in the second game of the day. Herbst would reach via a one out single and scored on a wild pitch with two outs. Winona State would add two more runs in the top of the second.
Sam Kohnle singled with one out to left field. After stealing second he would come home to score on a single by
Michael Hommes. Two batters later Herbst doubled to left field, driving in Hommes.
Sioux Falls scored five runs in the bottom of the third to grab a 5-3 lead. The big hit, a three run homer came with two outs. WSU countered back, scoring four runs in the top of the fourth. The inning featured three hits and two walks. Herbst, Field and Cazares all had RBI's in the Warriors rally.
In the bottom of the fifth, Sioux Falls scored a run to get with one. Cazares gave the Warriors their two run lead back with a homer to left field to lead off the seventh.
Taylor Field gave the Warriors their second three-run lead in the eighth, driving in Herbst with a two-out double to left field.
The Cougars got back on the scoreboard in the bottom of the ninth thanks to a wild pitch. No more runs would touch home and the Warriors held on for the 9-7 victory.
Parker Holmstrom went four innings in relief to earn the win. He allowed just two hits and one earned run.
