WINONA, Minn. – No. 15 Winona State University officially embarks on its 2019 campaign Tuesday with a doubleheader against Grand View University at the RCTC Dome in Rochester. Head coach Greg Jones is entering his 19th season leading one of the perennial top teams in the country with the Warriors.
Winona State has been tabbed the 2019 NSIC preseason favorite after winning both the regular season and postseason titles in 2018. It marked the second time in program history, and first since 2003, the Warriors swept both crowns in the same year. Winona State has been voted as the conference preseason favorite in four of the last five seasons.
The Warriors went 45-7 (20-2 NSIC) a year ago to post their highest overall winning percentage (.865) in program history. Winona State also hosted the NCAA DII Central Regional Tournament as the No. 1-seed. It marked the Warriors' 13th NCAA appearance – each coming under the guidance of Jones.
WSU will begin the season with All-American Lani Van Zyl sidelined due to injury for the first few weeks of play. The Warrior offense returns plenty of firepower though after collectively ranking second in the NSIC in OBP (.413), and third in batting (.343) and slugging (.501). The Warriors' 163 walks last season were their most in program history while their 183 strikeouts at the plate were their fewest since 2004.
Junior Alison Nowak has hit over .400 in each of her first two seasons and will be a force in the middle of the Warrior lineup once again. She hit .402 with a 1.014 OPS in 2018 while being named to the NFCA All-Central Region Second Team. After slugging 12 home runs as a freshman last year, Rylee Stout also returns to the heart of the order. She batted .326 in 2018 and ranked second on the team in total bases (87), RBI (46) and slugging (.644).
Katie Kolb will look to be a spark at the top of the WSU batting order once again after hitting .314 with a .397 OBP as a sophomore last year. The center fielder led the team in walks (24), ranked third in runs scored (47) and hit .482 when leading off an inning in 2018. Jen Giesey hit .283 last season and ranked second on the team in doubles (12), while Ann Smolenski batted .276 with six doubles and two homers as the pair split time at third base during their freshman campaign.
In the circle, 2018 NSIC Pitcher of the Year, Jordyn Kleman, will lead the pitching staff. Kleman was named the 2017 NSIC Freshman of the Year and has been named the 2019 NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year earning her junior season. She earned All-American honors for the first time in her career last season after posting a 19-2 record with a 1.86 ERA. Kleman tossed two-no hitters a year ago, including a five-inning perfect game vs. Moorhead. Her 165 strikeouts led the NSIC and she ranked 12th in the country with a 5.5 strikeout/walk ratio.
Jaida Reynen, Katie Schlegel and Alyssa Van Valey all return to the rotation, along with sophomore transfer Liz Pautz. Reynen, Schlegel and Van Valey combined to post an 8-0 record in 19 appearances.
Scouting Grand View
The Vikings are perennially one of the top teams in the NAIA and enter this season ranked No. 21. Grand View went 48-10 in 2018 while reaching the NAIA National Championship Opening Round four the fourth straight year.
Winona State owns a 9-3 all-time series lead over Grand View after the teams split a doubleheader in Rochester early last season. Tuesday will also mark the first games of the year for the Vikings.
Grand View returns five All-Conference players that saw the Vikings win both the regular season and postseason championships in the Heart of America Conference. Kaylee Watson batted .400 last season followed by Lexi Merritt (.395). Lauren Poortinga hit .346 with a team-best 13 homers and 57 RBI. In the circle, Libby Yenger is the top returner after posting an 18-4 record with a 2.48 ERA with six shutouts and 19 complete games in 24 starts.
