WINONA, Minn. – The Warriors were hoping to celebrate on graduation day at Winona State University, but Northern State University had other ideas on Friday afternoon at Loughrey Field. NSU began its sweep with a late-inning surge over the Warriors in the opener, 6-4. Winona State then put together a rally of their own in the finale, but came up two runs short, 13-11.
Under picturesque skies at Loughrey Field,
Aaron Mutter toed the rubber and gave Winona State a good chance to take game one. Mutter gave up a leadoff home run to start the game but shut the door on any chances NSU had to score through the next four innings.
Andrew Pliner got the Warriors started in the hit column with a single to center. Later in the inning,
Tanner Williams beat out an inning-ending double play as Pliner crossed the plate to tie the game.
The Warriors took the lead in the second on a triple by
Zac Stange that scored
Derek Martin who previously walked. Winona State loaded the bases in the third and added another run on a single by Martin to take a 3-1 lead.
The Wolves got to Mutter in the sixth and retook the lead, tagging him for three runs on just two hits. He would finish out the inning but it was his final of the day as the right-hander surrendered four runs on five hits in 6.0 IP with Northern taking a 4-3 advantage late.
Taylor Field tied the game back up in the bottom half, scoring Pliner on a double.
Jacob Watzka relieved Mutter, looking to hold the Wolves and give the Warriors a chance to win. Unfortunately, Northern State put together a two-out rally scoring two runs which proved to be the difference maker in the game.
The bats were on display in the finale. The two teams combined for and astounding 24 runs on 34 hits.
The Wolves struck first in the second inning, but the Warriors quickly answered with a three-run inning.
Nick Nalewanski singled home
Chad Herbst to put the Warriors on the board, and Stange hit a screaming liner through the second baseman that scored two more, giving the Warriors the lead, 3-1.
Game two starter
Caleb Schoenholz worked himself into a bit of a jam in the top of the third, but some stellar defense by the Warriors limited the damage to just one run.
In the fourth, Stange kick-started a string of four-straight run scoring hits en route to a five-run inning for the Warriors to push the lead to 8-2.
Winona State had to dip into the bullpen after Schoenholz completed five innings, giving up three runs on seven hits and striking out seven.
Tanner Haessly came in to pitch and completed a solid sixth inning before Northern State pushed him around in the seventh. Haessly got two quick outs to start the inning before the Wolves connected their next five hits to score four runs and chase the right-hander before he could record the final out.
Jackson Stensgard came in to try and stop the bleeding, but he was unable to do so before NSU tied the game at eight apiece.
Stensgard held the Wolves through the eighth inning but gave up the go-ahead run before being pulled for
Parker Holmstrom in the ninth.
Holmstrom gave up a single to the first batter he faced to load the bases for the Wolves. The next batter cleared the bases on a ball hit deep to the left center gap for a triple.
The Warriors showed no signs of quitting in the bottom of the ninth.
Austin Savary who came in to pinch hit, started off the inning with a double. Mitchel Heid then hit a screamer to the third baseman for an infield single, advancing Savary to third.
Kipp Youngquist doubled home Savary giving the Warriors hope in the final inning. Martin added to the ninth inning total on a sharp single through the second baseman that scored two more. Northern State's closer Holt Hunziker shut the Warriors down from then on, dashing the hopes of completing the comeback.
The Warriors fall to 17-20 (16-14 NSIC) on the season, while Northern State improves to 19-17 (12-12 NSIC).
Winona State will celebrate Senior Day tomorrow as the Warriors close out the 2018 regular season with two more games against Northern State. First pitch for game one is scheduled for noon.
