WINONA, Minn. – On paper, it was just another NSIC showdown between Winona State University and St. Cloud University at Maynard R. Johnson Field. Even the frigid air and overcast skies resembled those of an early-April regular season matchup. However, the stakes were much higher on Thursday afternoon as the Warriors and Huskies clashed for the fourth time this year – this time in the opening round of the 2019 NCAA Division II Softball Central Regional.
Following the pregame pomp and circumstance of the postseason, and prior to the postgame graduation ceremony on the field, No. 6 Winona State University collected its fourth head-to-head win over the Huskies, 5-0, behind Jordyn Kleman's two-hit shutout.
Kleman (27-3), who has fired two no-hitters this season, didn't surrender a hit until the sixth inning. By that time, the Warrior offense had already provided the NSIC Pitcher of the Year with a 5-0 cushion. Kleman struck out nine batters over 7.0 IP for her 24th complete game and ninth shutout of the year.
In three starts this season against St. Cloud, Kleman has allowed three runs on 10 hits over 21.0 IP with 23 strikeouts.
"It helped to get to know their tendencies throughout the year and I tried to use that to my advantage today," she said postgame. "I was able to throw strikes when I needed to and did my best to keep them off balance all day and let the defense work behind me."
It was a rare hitless day at the plate for Lani Van Zyl, but the senior shortstop made a big play defensively up the middle in the top of the second with a runner on second base to end the inning and keep the Huskies off the board after WSU had taken a 2-0 lead in the previous half inning.
Kayla Kerkman sparked the first inning rally with a bunt single ahead of back-to-back two-out walks by Alison Nowak and Alexis Kelsey to load the bases. Ann Smolenski followed with a seeing-eye single through the right side of the infield to drive in a pair of runs and the Warriors never looked back.
Rylee Stout's first RBI of the affair came in the third inning on a groundout, and her next went roughly 200 feet further, clearing the center field fence for a solo homer in the fifth frame. Stout's blast was the second of two in the inning after Kelsey also drilled a solo home run to center field.
"St. Cloud had my number during the conference tournament, so today I was trying to just make solid contact," Kelsey commented. "I have a lot of big hitters in front of me in the lineup, and it's nice to be able to come through in big moments, especially in my first postseason at Winona State."
Entering the NCAA Regionals, Winona State (51-7) and Augustana University (52-9) were the only two 50-win teams across the country in the postseason field. They will now square off for the fifth time this year in the winner's bracket in Winona on Friday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. with the Vikings serving as the home team on the scoreboard on the Warriors' home field. The winner will advance to Saturday's championship game while the loser will play an elimination game on Friday night at 6 p.m.
