KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Winona State University won its third straight game at the RussMatt Florida Invitational Saturday afternoon with a 10-9 victory over (RV) Seton Hill University before the Warriors' streak was halted later that day with an 8-2 setback to No. 10 West Chester University.
It was another back-and-forth affair for WSU as the Warriors once again prevailed with a late rally by scoring four unanswered runs for the triumph over Seton Hill. The teams accounted for at least one run in each inning with recording 14 hits apiece in the ballgame.
Austin Savary opened the floodgates with an RBI-single in the top of the first frame that saw the Griffins quickly respond with a pair of runs to take the lead in the bottom of the inning. Trailing 4-2 heading to the fourth, Tanner Williams connected on his fourth long ball of the season to knot the score with a two-run shot to right field.
Seton Hill posted four runs in the bottom of the fifth frame to take an 8-4 lead before Winona State began to chip away at its deficit over the final four innings. The Warriors cut the Griffins' lead to 8-6 in the top of the seventh that saw Seton Hill add its final run in the bottom of the frame.
Zac Stange had a big game for WSU and slashed the Warrior deficit back to two runs with an RBI-double in the eighth. Winona State trailed 9-7 entering its final at-bats and completed its fifth comeback win of the year.
Nick Nalewanski extended his hitting streak to six games with a pinch-hit two-run single to tie the game in the top of the ninth. Stange drove in his third run of the contest later in the inning to push across the game-winning run.
Justin Firpo (1-0) earned the win in a relief effort while making his first appearance of the season. The freshman scatter four hits over 3.2 IP and allowed just one run. Nicolas Herold tossed a perfect ninth inning for his fourth save in as many attempts this year.
After averaging over seven runs per game in their first three outings in Florida, the Warrior offense was held to just two runs against the No. 10-ranked Golden Rams of West Chester. Both Winona State runs crossed the plate in the ninth frame of the loss.
Nalewanksi, who is batting .381 on the young season, continued to produce for WSU with a run-scoring single in the ninth and Nathan Loomis added a sac fly in the inning to account for the final Warrior run.
The Golden Rams launched three homers in the win while handing Dillon Whittaker (1-2) the loss on the mound. Levi Schaller and Tanner Haessly each tossed scoreless innings in relief.
Andrew Pliner led the offense in the finale against West Chester with a 3-for-3 effort at the plate.
Winona State (6-3) will enjoy an off day on Sunday before returning to action against Wayne State University on Monday. The Warriors conclude their Florida road trip with a ballgame at Florida Tech on Tuesday.
