SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – No. 8 Winona State University's offense served as the catalyst in a doubleheader sweep of Southwest Minnesota State University on Friday afternoon to cap a four-game road trip. The Warriors run-ruled the Mustangs in game one, 12-4, before completing their sweep with an 8-2 triumph.
A day after settling for a split with Sioux Falls where the offense was held in check, Winona State combined for 23 hits and four home runs against SMSU.
McKenna Larsen combined to go 6-for-7 with a double, homer and six RBI in the twinbill.
The Warriors trailed in the opener after the Mustangs plated a first inning run, and it was until a four-run fourth inning that Winona State took the lead. SMSU tied the contest, 4-4, with three runs in the bottom of the fourth before the Warrior bats exploded for eight runs in the fifth.
Rylee Stout sparked the rally with a two-run homer and Katie Schlegel followed with her second pinch-hit home run of the season, a three-run shot to make it a 9-4 game. Alison Nowak and Larsen chipped in RBI-singles in the frame while Stout added to her RBI total with a run-scoring double in her second at-bat of the inning.
Jaida Reynen (5-0) was credited with the win in the circle after she came on in relief to pitch the fourth inning.
Jordyn Kleman (10-1) was the winning pitcher in game two, allowing two runs on five hits over 5.0 IP. Alyssa Van Valey tossed the final two innings and held the Mustangs to just one hit while striking out four batters.
Larsen picked up where she left off at the plate, cracking the scoring seal with an RBI-single in the first inning as Winona State led wire-to-wire in the finale. The senior circle the bases for her first homer of the season in the fifth inning.
Stout drove in a combined seven runs on the day and connected on her second long ball of the doubleheader in the third inning of game two.
Winona State (26-4, 5-1 NSIC) returns to action next week with a twinbill against Wayne State tentatively scheduled for Tuesday afternoon in Winona beginning at 1 p.m. Stay tuned to WinonaStateWarriors.com for potential schedule changes.
