FOREST CITY, Iowa – Winona State University peppered the Bemidji State University pitching staff for 19 runs on 28 hits Monday afternoon as the Warriors completed a four-game road trip with a sweep of the Beavers to extend their winning streak to 18 straight.
WSU was a 10-4 winner in game one before run-ruling the Beavers in game two, 9-0. The finale marked the Warriors' third shutout of the road trip and 13th of the season.
No. 17 Winona State improves to 33-5 (18-0 NSIC) while sending Bemidji State to a record of 22-20 (5-13 NSIC).
Jordyn Kleman (17-1) followed up Sunday's no-hitter by blanking the Beavers over 3.0 IP and striking out four batters. Bemidji State managed just two hits off Kleman Monday, but the Beaver offense avoided a run-ruled decision by scoring all four of its runs once the Warrior right-hander exited the game.
With sustained winds of over 20 mph in the opening ballgame, the WSU offense had a great approach at the plate by keeping balls out of the air and consistently hitting balls on a line and through open space in the infield. The first two Warrior runs in the first inning were unearned as the Beavers struggled with all the hard contact and committed four errors in the opener.
Alison Nowak got her four-RBI affair started with a two-run single in the second inning ahead of an RBI-single by Alexis Kelsey to make it a 5-0 game. Winona State then plated five runs on six hits in the third frame to make it 10-unaswered runs heading to the fourth inning before the Beavers finally got on the board with a pair of runs to extend the game.
Senior Katie Schlegel recorded the final three outs of the Warrior win in the circle with a perfect relief appearance in the bottom of the seventh inning.
In game two, Liz Pautz (12-2) shut out the Beavers in a complete game effort while striking out six over 5.0 IP. The sophomore allowed just three hits and lowered her NSIC-leading ERA to 0.64. Pautz has allowed just two earned runs over her last 38.2 IP.
Following a scoreless first inning from both teams in the finale, the Warriors blew the doors wide open with a seven-run second frame by sending 11 batters to the plate.
Consecutive singles by Kelsey, Ann Smolenski and Rylee Stout lit the fuse on the rally and led to an explosion in the form of a grand slam off the bat of Jen Giesey to right-center field – the second grand slam of the year by the sophomore. The relentless Warriors quickly reloaded the bases on walks by Carly Kordich and Katie Kolb ahead of a bunt single by Kayla Kerkman. The Beavers looked poised to escape further damage by retiring Lani Van Zyl and Nowak until Kelsey returned to the dish and cleared the bases with a three-run double to the left-center field gap.
Every Warrior started reached base safely at least once in game two with Giesey's three-hit effort leading the way. Stout was one of five Warriors with two hits in the tilt as the sophomore catcher also scored twice in the lopsided victory.
Kelsey drove in five runs between the two ballgames as WSU's top and bottom of the order continue to get on base for the heart of the lineup. Kolb and Kordich combined to reach base seven times and score six runs.
The Warriors will have a very short turnaround from their four-game road trip and return to action on their home field tomorrow afternoon. Winona State will be in action for the third straight day on Tuesday when the Warriors host Concordia, St. Paul at Maynard R. Johnson Field in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.
