WINONA, Minn. – No. 7 Winona State University made history on Sunday afternoon at Maynard R. Johnson Field. The Warriors successfully ran the table in conference play with a perfect 30-0 stretch to capture their fifth NSIC Championship in program history, and back-to-back titles for the first time ever. It marks the most wins in NSIC history and the first 30-0 record.
On Senior Day, Lani Van Zyl went 5-for-8 at the plate with a homer and three RBI while Katie Schlegel pitched a perfect fifth inning in the finale to ignite the celebration by striking out the final Minot State batter of the doubleheader.
Winona State (45-5, 30-0 NSIC) run-ruled the Beavers twice by scores of 8-0 (6 inn.) and 12-1 (5 inn.).
The Warriors' unprecedented 30-game win streak began on March 27th after the purple and white had lost three of their previous five ballgames heading into conference play.
Prior to game two, WSU also honored and welcome home members of the 2009 World Series team as the 2019 squad looked on and proceeded to make history of their own.
Winona State's aces, Jordyn Kleman (24-1) and Liz Pautz (17-2), allowed just three hits apiece in their respective starts Sunday while combing to strike out 11 Minot State batters over 10.0 IP.
Sophomore Ann Smolenski contributed to the Warriors' huge offensive day with a perfect 5-for-5 effort with seven RBI. Smolenski registered her first career two-homer game in the finale, connecting on long balls in both the third and fourth frames to spark a nine-run Winona State onslaught in the latter.
The Warriors sent 12 batters to the plate in the bottom of the fourth in which Smolenski opened the flood gates by clearing the bases with a grand slam – her second round-tripper in as many innings. Van Zyl picked up two hits in the inning, Katie Kolb and Rina Niehoff each recorded run-scoring hits, and Kristina Ahlers blasted a pinch-hit, two-run homer.
In game one, Alison Nowak drilled her league-leading 14th home run which continues to inflate the junior's career high.
Over the course of their 30-game win streak, the Warriors have launched 39 of their 47 home runs this year and slugged .578 with a collective .378 team batting average to outscore their opponents, 210-45. The pitching staff, led by Kleman and Pautz, has posted a 1.41 ERA.
Winona State has secured the No. 1-seed in next week's NSIC Tournament set for May 2-4 at RYFSA Complex in Rochester, Minnesota. WSU will play at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 2 with an opponent to be determined when the complete tournament bracket is released later this evening. As the current No. 2-seed in the NCAA Division II Central Region Ranking, the Warriors also hope to bring softball back to Winona as a potential host of the NCAA Regional Tournament on May 9-11.
