ABERDEEN, S.D. – Jordyn Kleman earned a pair of wins Saturday night in the Presentation College Dome as No. 22 Winona State University prevailed over Northern State University with a doubleheader sweep. Kleman and the Warriors made short work of the Wolves in a run-ruled 9-0 ballgame to begin the evening before outlasting NSU in extra innings in the nightcap, 6-5.
Kleman (10-1) two-hit Northern State in game one for her fourth shutout of the season. The junior right-hander picked up the win in relief in game two, blanking the Wolves once again over 3.2 IP while striking out five batters.
Jen Giesey got her four-RBI day started in the opener with a two-run single to spark a six-run Winona State second inning. Carly Kordich, Kayla Kerkman, Lani Van Zyl and Alison Nowak each chipped in RBI-singles in the frame as the Warriors peppered the Wolves for 10 runs in the tilt.
Giesey's RBI-double in the top of the fifth inning capped a three-run inning which preceded Kleman striking out two of the final three batters she faced for the lopsided victory.
Liz Pautz started in the circle for Winona State in the finale and was immediately greeted with a two-run Northern State homer. It marked the first long ball surrendered by the sophomore this season as she received a no decision in the start. Pautz was charged with three runs on four hits over 1.2 IP as the right-hander allowed more than one run for the first time in 10 appearances this year.
Nowak provided a quick response for WSU in the top of the second with her team-leading fourth home run of the season. The junior's solo shot cut the Warrior deficit in half at 2-1 before NSU tacked on another run in the bottom half of the second.
An RBI-single by Alexis Kelsey made it a one-run affair once more in the top of the third and Kerkman gave the Warriors their first lead of the game with a two-run single in the fourth inning. The back-and-forth action continued as Northern State knotted the score again in the bottom of the fourth and took a 5-4 lead in the fifth frame.
The Warriors showed their resolve by battling back in their final at-bats of the seventh inning. Alexis Kelsey drew a one-out walk to start the rally and Giesey walked with two out. Rina Niehoff extended the frame on a fielder's choice to load the bases in front of the game-tying single by Kordich.
Kleman worked around a pair of baserunners in the bottom of the seventh to push the game into extra innings where the Warriors ultimately prevailed with the win. A two-out single by Ann Smolenski kept the eighth inning alive before Giesey reached on the third NSU error of the night which allowed Nowak to scamper home for the game-winning run.
Nowak combined to go 6-for-7 with two extra-base hits, two RBI and four runs scored in the twinbill. She leads the NSIC with a .474 batting average.
Winona State improves to 19-5 (4-0 NSIC) while Northern State falls to 9-17 (1-3 NSIC).
The Warriors will wrap up their road trip in Aberdeen with a doubleheader against MSU Moorhead Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.
