CLERMONT, Fla. – (RV) Winona State University showcased its ability to win in multiple ways Sunday as the Warriors win streak reached six in a row. WSU pummeled Urbana University offensively to begin the day in Florida, 12-2, and rode the backs of a pair of dominant pitchers to conclude the afternoon sweep over Sheperd University, 5-0.
Alison Nowak drove in a career-high five RBI against Urbana and concluded the day with six. Jordyn Kleman and Alyssa Van Valey combined on a shutout of Sheperd in Sunday's finale.
After Katie Schlegel sat down the Urbana Knights in order in the top of the first, Katie Kolb led off the bottom of the frame with a walk. She junior catalyst proceeded to steal second base and advanced two more bases, eventually scoring the first run of the game on a pair of Urbana errors. Nowak made it a 2-0 game with an RBI-single.
Nowak connected on a bases-clearing double to make it a 5-0 game in the second inning and recorded another run-scoring double in fifth frame with the Warriors closing in on a run-ruled victory. Rina Niehoff delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the fifth in the form of an RBI-single to plate Nowak.
Schlegel (1-0) pick up the first victory of her senior campaign with three scoreless innings in the circle. The right-hander allowed just one hit and struck out a pair of batters.
Kleman (4-0) scattered two hits over 4.1 IP while walking two and striking out three batters against Sheperd. The junior hurler ran into trouble in the bottom of the fifth when the Rams loaded the bases with just one out in a 4-0 game. Van Valey relieved Kleman and retried the next two batters to escape the jam and proceed to record her second career save.
Van Valey allowed just one baserunner over the final 2.2 IP and recorded four strikeouts to preserve the shutout. The junior also helped keep Kleman's streak of 21.1 IP without a run by keeping Sheperd off the board in the pivotal fifth inning.
It was the top of the fifth frame that saw the Warriors break out for all four of their runs at that point in the tilt. Kolb broke the scoring seal with a clutch two-out, two-run single to plate Ann Smolenski and Carly Kordich. Two batters later, Lani Van Zyl recorded a two-run single to center.
Nowak capped her huge day with an RBI-single in the top of the seventh inning for an added insurance run as Van Valey closed out Sheperd in the circle.
Van Zyl combined to go 4-for-7 with four RBI at the plate Sunday.
Winona State (8-2) returns to action for two more games on Monday morning against Post University and Lewis University before the Warriors can enjoy a day off in the Sunshine State on Tuesday.
