MAUSTON, Wis. – Freshman right-hander Kyle Gendron did all he could to pitch Winona State University to a split against No. 4 St. Cloud State University on Thursday evening in the finale of a twinbill at Woodside Sports Complex. After the Warriors were thumped in the opener, 17-6, the rookie turned in the best performance of his young career, but it wasn't enough as the WSU bats fell silent in a 2-0 loss.
Winona State falls to 8-8 (2-3 NSIC) after enduring its first doubleheader sweep of the season while St. Cloud State improves to 16-3 (4-1 NSIC).
Gendron (1-2) gave the Warriors exactly what they needed in the nightcap with his longest outing of the year after WSU's bullpen was taxed in the game one loss. The freshman allowed two runs (one earned) over 8.0 IP while issuing just one walk and striking out four batters. Gendron's season ERA shrinks to 3.05 despite the tough-luck loss.
The first St. Cloud run against Gendron was unearned when a passed ball broke through catcher Derek Baumgartner's mitt in the top of the second inning. The miscue didn't faze the rookie though as Gendron breezed through the Huskie order to face the minimum over the next three frames.
Winona State had a golden opportunity to tie the game, and potentially break it open, in the bottom of the fourth. Zac Stange was hit by a pitch to begin the inning and Tanner Williams followed with a single. Two quick outs later, the runners remained at first and second until Andrew Pliner drew a walk to load the bases, but the Warriors were unable to cash in and left all three runners stranded.
A solo homer in the top of the sixth stood as perhaps the hardest hit ball of the day off Gendron and the final run scored on either side as the Huskies added a valuable insurance run.
Cal Giese and Matt Butler combined to three-hit the Warriors as Winona State was blanked on the scoreboard for the first time this season.
Game one was anything but a pitcher's duel as the teams combined for 23 runs on 27 hits. Despite St. Cloud's robust offensive output in the 17-6 victory, the Huskies showed off their ability to play small ball with just one extra-base hit in the tilt.
The Warrior pitching staff issued 11 walks in the loss – four of which came with the bases loaded.
It was a bases-loaded walk followed by a sac fly that put St. Cloud on the board with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning before WSU responded to take the lead in the bottom of the frame. With two runs already across, Chad Herbst's RBI-single in the bottom of the first made it a 3-2 ballgame, but the Warrior lead was short-lived.
The Huskies plated eighth runs in the top of the second and chased WSU started Austin Savary from the mound as the southpaw faced seven batters in the frame without recording an out. Justin Firpo stepped up when Savary left the game and did his best to limit the damage over the next five innings. The freshman escaped the second frame giving up just one run and proceeded to silence St. Cloud over the next two innings facing one over the minimum after walking the first batter in the fourth.
The Warriors tried to inch their way back into the game over the next three innings adding one run in the bottom of the second when Sam Kohnle's second RBI of the game made it a 9-4 affair. In the fourth, Winona State shrunk its deficit to 9-6 when Nathan Loomis doubled home Nick Nalewanski and later scored on a single by Williams.
The Huskies put the game out of reach by scoring eight unanswered runs over the final three frames to cruise to the opening triumph.
Williams went 6-for-8 at the plate on the day, including a four-hit effort with two doubles in the finale.
The two teams took advantage of their speed on the base paths, combing to steal seven bags in the doubleheader.
With "Old Man Winter" still lingering in Winona, the Warriors will continue to serve as the home team at Woodside Sports Complex over the next two days for a three-game set with SMSU. First pitch of the series is slated for 2 p.m. on Friday.
