WINONA, Minn. – Winona State baseball finally gets a chance to play on its home turf as Wednesday's doubleheader with Bemidji State has been relocated to Loughrey Field. Game times are slated for 1/3 p.m.
The Warriors are looking to get back in the win column and rebound after being swept by Minot State one week ago. WSU will get to experience home field advantage for the first time this season but will play as the visitor on the scoreboard as the game was originally scheduled to be played in Bemidji.
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SCOUTING THE BEAVERS:Bemidji State (2-20, 1-9 NSIC) comes into the midweek matchup with the Warriors at the bottom of the NSIC. The Beavers started off the year with a non-conference win over Rockhurst before dropping their next 16 games. After opening the NSIC schedule with five losses, BSU collected its lone conference win thus far in a split with Concordia, St. Paul. The Beavers Blake Huntley sports a respectable .277 batting average on a team that is hitting a league-low .213 this season. Opposing hitters are hitting .389 against the Bemidji pitching staff collecting 84 extra-base hits (10 homers).
OL' MAN WINTER: As is to be expected in recent years, the lingering winter weather in Winona caused WSU to reschedule a handful of games earlier this season delaying the home opener. Despite the site reversals, moved dates and cancelations the Warriors have gotten off to a strong start posting an 11-10 (5-5 NSIC) record through 21 games. WSU kicked off the season winning six of its first eight games this season. Since entering conference play, Winona State has played .500 baseball and is showing signs of a team that is determined to finish the season strong.
MR. CONSISTENT: When first baseman
Sam Kohnle steps to the plate, odds are that he is going to end up on base somehow with a .478 OBP. Kohnle is one of the toughest batters in the country to strike out only being sent down on strikes three times this season, a mark that has him inside the top-10 (9th) on the "toughest to strike out" list. The redshirt junior leads the Warriors with a .421 batting average which is also among the conference best (6th). Kohnle leads the team in hits (32), doubles (6) and is tied for the lead in RBI (15) with
Derek Martin. Earlier this season the Tisch Mills, Wisconsin native hit safely in 10 consecutive games and is currently on another six-game hitting streak.
LATE-INNING LOCKDOWN: The Warriors have had a lock down bullpen through the first half of the season. The trio of
Jacob Watzka,
Parker Holmstrom and
Nicolas Herold have been lights out when called upon in the late innings helping WSU to an 8-0 record when leading after the sixth. Watzka continues to pitch effectively for the Warriors in his senior campaign holding opposing hitters to just .200 at the plate in 8.1 IP. Holmstrom has been WSU's go to hold men in the late innings sporting a 2-1 record striking out six in 8.1 innings of work. Herold has emerged as the WSU closer and one of the best in the NSIC. The sophomore is second in the NSIC in saves (5) holding opposing batters to a .152 average while striking out 14 in 10.1 IP.
SURE-HANDED D: The Winona State defense is much improved this season as the team ranks second in the nation in fielding percentage (.979). The Warriors have committed an NSIC-low 17 errors to this point in the season which is 10 less than the team had at this point last year (27).
Derek Martin has made tremendous strides in his fielding this season committing just three errors so far this season compared to last season's 18 and has helped WSU turn seven double plays.
NSIC POLL: Winona State was tabbed seventh in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll at the beginning of the 2019 campaign. The Warriors currently sit in the eighth position, one spot behind Concordia, St. Paul. Reaching the midway point in the season, WSU still has the opportunity to climb the ladder in the NSIC with four of its final nine scheduled opponents currently sitting in front of the Warriors.
