BOLIVAR, MO. - The Winona State Warriors scored 12 unanswered runs over the final five innings to easily defeat the Bearcats of Southwest Baptist University Friday afternoon by a final score of 16-5.

With the win the Warriors move to 5-3 on the year while the Bearcats fall to 4-6.

After taking over in the fifth inning, sophomore Justin Firpo (1-0) allowed just three hits in his five innings pitched to notch his first win of the year.

After falling behind 1-0 right off the bat, Zac Strange doubled to score Nick Nalewanski and Derek Martin to give the Warriors a 2-1 lead.

Heading into the fifth inning and down 5-4, the Warriors came alive. Austin Savary hit a triple to score Nick Herbst, then Nick Nalewanski hit a single the next at bat to score Savary. The Warriors would go up 6-5 and would never look back.

The Warriors broke the game open in the seventh, scoring four runs on three hits to give WSU a 12-5 lead and effectively put the game away. Sam Kohnle continued his stellar season by nearling hitting one of the park on a two-RBI double.

The Warriors added four more runs in the ninth, capped off by a Mitchell Seager RBI to score the Warriors last insurance run of the game.

Zac Strange was phenomenal in the win, going 3-for-5 with three RBI's while also crossing the plate three times himself. Tanner Williams brings his season average up to .378 by going 3-for-6 with three RBI's in the victory.

The Warriors and Bearcats will conclude their three-game series with a doubleheader tomorrow. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.