WINONA, Minn. - After a weekend storm hit Mankato, the Warriors and Mavericks will move Tuesday's games to Winona to play at WSU's Loughery Field. Although the games will be played on the Warriors' home field, they will remain the visitors in both games of the doubleheader. Winona State (5-10, 4-4 NSIC) comes into the matchup with the Mavericks riding a series victory over Sioux Falls late last week. Minnesota State (10-7, 5-3 NSIC) most recently suffered a series loss to Minot State.
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LAST TIME OUT: Late last week, Winona State battled Sioux Falls in their first true home series of the season and came away with a 3-1 series victory. The two teams split Thursday's doubleheader one game apiece. Friday afternoon, the Warriors took both games and ended the night with an exclamation point. Winona State put together a four-run third inning in game one and ended up winning 5-1. In game two, the Warriors quickly jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, but the Cougars would come back to tie the game at three in the sixth. The two teams would remain tied through nine innings and proceed to play four more until Zac Stange poked an RBI-single to center scoring Derek Martin to win the game. Reliever Jacob Watzka had a career outing pitching 7.0 scoreless, innings collecting 11 strikeouts.
SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS: Minnesota State comes into this week's matchup on a three-game losing skid after dropping the series to Minot State late last week. The Mavericks lineup in this young season is sitting in third in the NSIC in batting average (.307) and fourth in on-base percentage (.386). Minnesota State's pitching staff is also third in the conference with an ERA of 3.77 and opponents' batting average of .251. Outfielder Josh Wenzel leads the Mavericks at the plate with a .422 batting average which is good for fifth in the conference. Left hander Aaron Rozek leads the Minnesota State pitching staff with a 1.73 ERA in four appearances. The redshirt-senior averages 10 strikeouts per appearance and has an opponents' batting average of .233.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK: Freshman Zac Stange was inserted into the leadoff spot in the Warrior lineup on opening day and has not disappointed. The Eau Claire, Wis. native is currently third on the team in batting average (.314), second in slugging percentage (.451), tied for second in RBIs (8), and tied for the team lead in home runs (2). Waconia, Minn. native Dillon Whittaker has already notched two wins in his young career. The right-hander has consistently pitched five or more innings in his past three starts, collecting 14 strikeouts.
YOUNG LEADER: NSIC "Player to Watch" Sam Kohnle has started off his 2018 campaign with a team leading .345 average through the first 15 games of the season. The first baseman has collected 20 hits in 58 at bats, driving in eight runs.
HOME SWEET HOME: The Warriors have been comfortable at the friendly confines of Loughery Field in recent years. Since 2010, the team has gone 93-51 (.645) at home and looks to continue that trend as they return home this week.
PRESEASON RANKINGS: Winona State has been picked to finish 10th in the 2018 NSIC baseball preseason coaches' poll after suffering their third straight 30-loss season. The Warriors currently in the eighth position with a 4-4 (.500) conference record, just behind Tuesday's opponent Minnesota State (5-3 NSIC).
