WINONA, Minn. – No. 7 Winona State University returns to Maynard R. Johnson Field for the final weekend of the regular season with a four-game homestand against Minnesota State Moorhead and regionally-ranked Northern State.
First pitch on Saturday's Senior Day is slated for 1 p.m. against Moorhead and Sunday's final doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. with Northern.
The Warriors (37-5, 16-2 NSIC) can claim the NSIC Championship outright by winning three of four games this weekend. Winona State, the preseason conference favorite, won its last regular season crown in 2007 and is seeking its fourth overall title. The Warriors could also reach the 40-win plateau for the 12th time in program history – each coming under Head Coach Greg Jones.
All four weekend games will be streamed live and have live stats provided.
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REGIONAL ROUNDUP: For the second straight week Winona State is the No. 1-ranked team in the NCAA Division II Central Region Softball Rankings. Seven of the 10 teams currently ranked in the Central Region are from the NSIC. The MIAA and GAC are the other two conferences that represent the 42-team Central Region. The NCAA Selection Show is set for Monday, May 7 at 9 a.m. and the top two teams in each region will serve as hosts.
SCOUTING REPORT: Moorhead enters Saturday's twinbill at 13-27 (4-16). The Dragons rank last in the NSIC in team ERA (5.98), slugging (.363) and OBP (.325), and are second to last in batting average (.267). Northern State (27-17, 17-7 NSIC) travels to Upper Iowa Saturday before concluding the regular season in Winona on Sunday. Ranked No. 10 in the latest Central Region poll, the Wolves rank sixth in the NSIC in ERA (3.27) and are seventh in batting average (.314).
JACK OF ALL TRADES: Senior McKenna Larsen has done it all at Winona State – having been named the overall Warrior Female Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive year. A two-sport All-American in volleyball and softball, Larsen is having a career year at the plate while continuing her dominance in the circle. The southpaw ranks second on the team in nearly every offensive and pitching statistic. After leaving her mark on the volleyball record book, Larsen's name is littered all over the Top 15 of the Warrior softball records as well (See insert in notes).
NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP: Right-handed pitcher Jordyn Kleman has followed up her 2017 NSIC Freshman of the Year campaign with another stellar season in 2018. The sophomore leads the NSIC in strikeouts (117), ranks third in wins (16), sixth in opponent batting average (.213) and seventh in ERA (1.73). Kleman leads the team with 14 complete games and seven shutouts. She struck out a single-game career-best 15 while no-hitting Wayne State earlier this season. Kleman's 5.57 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranks 17th in the country.
SET THE TABLE: Winona State's 1-2 punch at the top of the lineup with Katelyn Kolb and Mariah Schultz has been the catalyst to the Warriors' offensive success. Kolb is batting .500 (34-for-68) when leading off an inning this season and enters the weekend having reached base safely in 15 straight games. Schultz ranks second on the team in OBP (.488) and is riding a 16-game streak of successfully reaching base. The two have combined to score 79 runs this year.
OFFENSIVE JUGGERNAUT: Shortstop Lani Van Zyl is among the league leaders in nearly every offensive category this season. The junior ranks third in the NSIC in slugging (.768) and OBP (.512), and is fourth in batting average (.449) and RBI (48). Van Zyl has already set new career highs in homers (10), runs (44) and RBI, and is seven hits away from a new career mark. Her 19 multi-hit and 13 multi-RBI games this season lead the team.
DEEP DISH: Freshman Rylee Stout's first collegiate hit was a grand slam in her third ballgame and the West Chicago, Illinois native has not slowed down ever since. Stout leads the team with 11 long balls and ranks second in RBI (44) and slugging (.684). Her 11 homers as a freshman are second-most in program history to Sarah Carlson's 14 in 2003. Stout has also found success behind the dish, throwing out four of 10 potential base stealers this year.
NO PRESSURE: The Warriors' offensive success can be linked to their clutch situational hitting. Winona State is batting .340 (137-for-403) with two outs and has recorded 109 two-out RBI this season. Alison Nowak leads the team with a .447 average (17-for-38) with two outs and 24 of Rylee Stout's 44 RBI have come with two outs. The Warriors are batting .355 with runners in scoring position (169-for-476) and an eye-popping .592 (74-for-125) with a runner on third and less than two out.
SENIOR SEND OFF: On Saturday, Winona State will honor its senior class of Paige Keegan, McKenna Larsen, Samantha McLean, Jamee Schleis and Mariah Schultz. Entering the weekend, the senior class has compiled a record of 170-49, won the 2015 NSIC Tournament Championship and made two NCAA Regionals.
