CLERMONT, Fla. – On day one of Winona State University's 10-game stint in the Sunshine State, the Warrior bats combined for 19 runs while the pitching staff surrendered just two in a pair of wins on Saturday over Walsh University and Ferris State University.
Two weeks removed from their last live action, the Warriors posted their highest run total of the young season with a 7-0 victory over Walsh to begin the day and closed the afternoon with an even bigger offensive output, defeating Ferris State in five innings, 12-2.
Jordyn Kleman (3-0) fired a one-hit shutout at the Walsh Cavaliers in her third complete game effort in as many starts this season. Kleman walked the first batter she faced in the ballgame and proceeded to sit down 12 consecutive batters before yielding her only hit of the day in the bottom of the fifth frame. The junior right-hander struck out six batters in the win.
Winona State staked Kleman to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI-double by Alison Nowak. Katie Kolb walked to leadoff the frame, and the sparkplug atop the lineup came around to score on Nowak's double after stealing second base with two outs.
The Warrior offense didn't truly break out until the final inning of the game against Walsh which carried over into the Ferris State rout. WSU left 11 runners on base in the opening tilt before cashing in a four-run seventh inning.
Following singles by Nowak and Jen Giesey in the seventh, Jaida Reynen pinch hit with one out and produced an RBI-single. Kristina Ahlers and Kayla Kerman kept the line moving with run-scoring singles of their own. Kolb made it a 7-0 affair with a two-run single, capping her day of reaching base safely three times.
The Warriors had to play from behind against the Ferris State Bulldogs, chasing a 1-0 deficit in the first frame, but did so in a hurry.
Rylee Stout and Alexis Kelsey connected on back-to-back homers in the bottom of the second inning to give WSU the lead for good. Kelsey, who appeared against Walsh earlier in the day as a pinch-hitter, launch a long ball in her first career start for the Warriors against the Bulldogs. The redshirt junior has battled injuries since transferring to WSU two years ago.
The fireworks didn't cease there, as just one inning later, Lani Van Zyl and Nowak smacked consecutive home runs in the third. Winona State blew the game wide open with a seven-run fourth frame to take a 12-1 advantage.
Kolb, Van Zyl, Rina Niehoff and McKenna Gutt each tallied at least one RBI in the explosive inning.
In the circle, Liz Pautz (2-1) battled back from a shaky start to earn the win. The sophomore righty allowed just one hit, while scattering five walks and striking out six batters over 4.0 IP. Alyssa Van Valey tossed the final inning for the Warriors.
Winona State improves to 6-2 with its fourth straight victory.
The Warriors return to the diamond Sunday afternoon for games against Ubrana University and Sheperd University.
