SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – An elimination game between Winona State University and Wayne State College featured two ties and three lead changes on the scoreboard Thursday afternoon in the NSIC Tournament with the Wayne State Wildcats ultimately prevailing in a hard-fought battle over the Warriors, 9-7.
Winona State (18-23) has its season come to an end after reaching the conference postseason tournament for the first time in three years.
The bats came alive in the second inning of the ballgame as Wayne State broke the seal with a run-scoring single to center field. The Wildcats maintained a 1-0 edge through a scoreless third frame only to pad their lead to 3-0 in the top of the fourth. Wayne State was aided in the inning by a Winona State error as defensive miscues continued to plaque the Warriors throughout the tournament.
Despite the three-run deficit, Winona State jumped right back into the game in the bottom half of the inning. Zac Stange walked to lead off the inning. Andrew Pliner followed with a single, moving Stange over to third who later scored. The next four Warrior batters reached base, capped off by Chad Herbst reaching on a fielder's choice that caused a circus to ensure, scoring two more runs on the play and tying the game at three apiece.
The Warriors proceeded to put together a two-run fifth inning to take a 5-3 advantage. Derek Martin reached on an error, followed by a Stange walk and Pliner followed with a bunt single to load the bases. Both Martin and Stange would come around to score to give Winona State a two-run cushion after five frames.
Wayne State then found an answer with a pair of runs in the sixth to knot the score once more at 5-5. Herbst pushed across the go-ahead run with a single in the bottom of the eighth as the Warriors looked to survive and advance in the tournament, but the Wildcats had other plans.
Wayne State pieced together a four-run ninth to reclaim the lead for good at 9-6.
Winona State made one last push for the win in the bottom half of the ninth on an RBI-double by Stange to score Martin, but the rally fell short in the end.
The Warriors rode Caleb Schoenholz (1-3) on the mound after using a number of arms in the opening round on Wednesday, and the sophomore gave Winona State everything he had in his longest outing of the season (8.1 IP). The southpaw allowed eight runs (six earned) on 13 hits while striking out three batters.
Jackson Stensgard recorded the final two outs of the ballgame in relief.
