LA CROSSE, Wis. – Winona State University opened conference play on Saturday with a pair of neutral site losses to Minot State University at Copeland Park. The Warriors dropped the opener to the Beavers, 11-5, before surrendering a six-run lead in the nightcap for a stunning 9-7 loss.
Minot never trailed in the opener and scored eight unanswered runs in the finale to rally for the sweep.
The Beavers got to Winona State starter Brett Herber for four runs in the first inning after a Warrior error opened the first game. Minot led by a 5-0 count after two innings before Derek Martin's sacrifice fly plated Taylor Field for Winona's first run of the ballgame in the fourth frame.
Minot hung another crooked number on the board in the fifth inning with five more runs. The Winona bats began to warm up late in the contest, with the Warriors out-hitting the Beavers, 10-8, but the early deficit proved to be too much to overcome.
Zac Stange and Kipp Youngquist each homered for WSU in the game one loss.
Herber (0-3) suffered the loss on the mound after allowing 10 runs (nine earned) on eight hits over 4.1 IP. The junior walked five batters and struck out four.
The second game saw the two starters battle through the first five innings. Minot struck first on a solo home run by Ethan Fleming in the third inning off of Caleb Schoenholz. In the fifth frame, the Warriors mounted a two-out rally with Andrew Pliner's two-run single giving Winona its first lead of the twinbill, 2-1.
The Warriors added one more run in the sixth before erupting for four more in the seventh inning to seemingly put the game out of reach. Pliner continued his big day with a solo blast to right field to open the seventh inning. Two batters later, Stange would single to left field to start the hit parade. Field and Chad Herbst would follow suit and all three would score later in the inning to give Winona a 7-1 lead heading into the eighth inning.
The Beavers chipped away at their deficit with a pair of runs in the eighth frame before shocking the Warriors with a six-spot in the top of the ninth. All six Minot runs in the ninth inning came with two outs, including the game-tying homer with the Warriors one strike away from securing victory. The Beavers would proceed to add another two-out two-strike home run before the inning came to an end.
Parker Holmstrom (0-2) was charged with the loss after allowing six runs on six hits in his ninth inning relief appearance. Schoenholz recorded a quality start for Winona but earned a no decision. The southpaw allowed just one run on five hits over 7.0 IP while striking out seven batters.
Pliner combined for go 5-for-8 with three RBI, a run scored, a walk and a stolen base in the doubleheader.
The Warriors will look to salvage a series split on Saturday afternoon with another doubleheader against Minot scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. at Copeland Park.
