WINONA, Minn. – No. 21 Winona State University completed a four-game weekend homestand sweep on Saturday afternoon while running its season-long winning streak to 12 consecutive games. Jordyn Kleman held off Sioux Falls in game one for a 4-3 victory prior to the Warriors' 10th shutout of the year in the finale, a 2-0 triumph.
The sweep puts Winona State (27-5, 12-0 NSIC) on a collision course with No. 12 Augustana University (30-5, 10-0 NSIC) in a battle for first place in the conference standings next week.
Kleman (14-1) turned in a gritty performance in the opener which translated into her 12 complete game effort of the season. The junior only surrendered four hits to the Cougars, but two of them left the yard as Sioux Falls made a late charge in the ballgame.
Trailing 4-3 in the top of the seventh, the Cougars put the tying run on base to open the inning against Kleman. The veteran hurler proceeded to sit down the next three batters she faced while punching out a pair to finish what she started. Kleman struck out nine batters in the tilt en route to her NSIC-leading 14th victory.
Winona State turned to Kleman once again in the finale, needing the right-hander to record the last two outs of the sweep. With the Warriors clinging to a 2-0 lead, Kleman entered from the bullpen with the bases loaded and only one out. She induced a weak infield fly to the first batter she faced before striking out her 10th batter of the day for the final out and her third save of the season.
Liz Pautz (9-2) was the winning pitcher in game two and struck out nine over 6.1 IP. The sophomore scattered four hits in her start while registering her 10th appearance without surrendering an earned run. Pautz continues to lead the league with a 0.59 ERA.
Rylee Stout paced the offense with her first three-hit effort of the year in game one, including an RBI-double. Jen Giesey, Alexis Kelsey and Katie Kolb drove in the other Warrior runs in the win.
Ann Smolenski broke the scoring seal in game two with a ringing RBI-double to center field in the second inning and Rina Niehoff chipped in a much-needed insurance run in the sixth with a pinch-hit squeeze bunt to score Giesey.
The University of Sioux Falls drops to 15-18 (5-7) after being sweep by WSU.
The Warriors' first-place showdown with the Augustana Vikings has been rescheduled to Tuesday in Sioux Falls due to inclement weather forecast for Wednesday. Game one of the twinbill is set to begin at 3 p.m.
