WINONA, Minn. - After another week of winter weather, Winona State (10-13, 9-7 NSIC) is back at Loughrey Field to face Upper Iowa Thursday afternoon. Game times of the doubleheader are scheduled for 1:30/3:30 p.m.
The Warriors come into the matchup having won five of their last six games, sweeping the University of Minnesota Crookston and splitting a midweek series last week at Wayne State. Upper Iowa (8-11, 6-7 NSIC) has yet to play a game in April. The Peacocks lost five of their last six games to finish out March with their most recent series resulting in a loss to Minnesota Duluth, three games to one.
Live stats and video streaming will be provided for both games, and KQAL Radio will broadcast game one of the twinbill.
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SINCE WE'VE BEEN GONE: The Warriors had a light schedule this past week as Winona State only played two of their regularly scheduled six games. Due to snowfall early in the week, the Warriors were forced to traveled to Wayne State instead of playing the two-game series at home. The teams split the doubleheader with the Warriors winning game one ,5-4, and the Wildcats taking game two in extra innings, 8-4. Aaron Mutter threw his second straight complete game in Winona State's come from behind victory in game one. Game two saw Winona State take a 3-1 lead into the ninth inning, but the Warriors were unable to hold the lead as Wayne State rallied to tie the game in the top of the ninth and proceeded to score five more in the 10th to hand Winona State the loss.
SCOUTING THE PEACOCKS: Entering the month of April, the Peacocks are sitting in ninth place in the NSIC. Leading the offensive charge for the Peacocks this season is outfielder Jacob Greco. The redshirt-junior is batting .397 this season with three home runs and nine RBI. Colin Lacey heads the Peacock pitching staff with a 2.25 ERA. Lacey leads the Upper Iowa starters only allowing six runs on the season thus far while striking out 11 and walking two in 20.0 IP. In his last outing against Augustana, Lacey went the full seven innings allowing four runs and striking out four. Upper Iowa is 8-0 when taking the lead into the seventh inning. Adversely, the Peacocks are winless when trailing after six innings of play.
SOLID STAFF: The Winona State starting staff is littered with talent. Sophomore Aaron Mutter has asserted himself as the Warriors top arm in the rotation despite an early injury. In five starts, the right-hander has collected a 2-1 record striking out 18 and walking five in 24.1 IP. Mutter has thrown two straight complete games in his last two starts, collecting the win in both of them. He struck out a career-high 10 against Minnesota Crookston. Sophomore Caleb Schoenholz leads the Warriors in innings pitched (36.1 IP) and strikeouts (32). The southpaw is averaging 5.33 strikeouts per start and has a strikeout to walk ratio of 4.0. Freshman standout Dillon Whittaker is a perfect 3-0 in five starts for the Warriors. The right-hander has won three straight averaging seven strikeouts, 1.33 walks, and 3.33 runs per game along that stretch.
JUMPING OUT THE GATE: The Warriors are 8-2 when leading after four innings of play this season. Complementing this record is the Warriors ability to score first and hold the lead. The Warriors have outscored their opponents in the first inning of games this year, 15-8. Consequently, when trailing after five innings, Winona State is 1-8 and has been outscored by the opposition, 31-3, in the eighth and ninth inning of ballgames.
RISING STAR: Freshman Zac Stange has made himself a strong case for newcomer of the year. The Waconia native was inserted into the leadoff spot in the Warrior lineup on opening day and has been consistent ever since. The lefty leads the team in runs scored (20) and on base percentage (.426). He is also third on the team in batting average (.308), second in slugging percentage (.436), tied for fourth in RBIs (12), and tied for the team lead in home runs (2).
LEAD BY EXAMPLE:Sophomore Sam Kohnle has asserted himself as a silent leader in the Warrior lineup. The first baseman leads the team with .375 average through the first 23 games of the season. The first baseman has collected 33 hits in 88 at bats, driving in a team high 15 runs. In the field, Kohnle is second on the team in fielding percentage (.987) and has only committed two errors this season.
