WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State University baseball team begins its new year with a three-game road trip to Pittsburg State University with single games slated for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. First pitch of the weekend series is set for 3 p.m. on Friday.
The Warriors are looking to build off a 26-23 (16-16 NSIC) record from a year ago where they made a solid run in the NSIC Tournament to conclude the season. Winona State has added to its win total in each of the last three seasons and looks to continue that trend in 2020. The 2019 season marked WSU's highest overall win total and first season above .500 since 2014.
Winona State was voted to finish sixth in the 2020 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
The Warriors return a strong rotation in 2020 that saw Kyle Gendron, Aaron Mutter, Caleb Schoenholz and Dillon Whittaker combine for a 17-12 record last year. Whittaker led that group in ERA (3.52), strikeouts (59) and wins (6). Mutter, a senior, limited batters to a .241 average while recording a career-best 54 strikeouts. Schoenholz is returning from a season-ending injury in 2019 and Gendron looks to build off an impressive rookie campaign.
Hard-throwing junior Nicolas Herold will secure the back end of the WSU bullpen after recording eight saves a year ago. Herold posted a 2-1 record with a 2.48 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP while holding batters to a.155 average and surrendering just two extra-base hits in 2019.
Winona State's lineup is filled with veteran hitters, including seniors Chad Herbst, Sam Kohnle, Derek Martin, Nick Nalewanski and Andrew Pliner. Juniors Nathan Loomis, Zac Stange and Tanner Williams will also be vital to the success of the Warrior offense.
Kohnle has led WSU in batting average in each of the last three years (.350 or higher), and ranked seventh in the country last season among the toughest batters to strike out in the country. He enters his final season closing in on several Top 20 marks in the Warrior record books, including career hits (140), singles (114) and doubles (26). Kohnle was named the Northwoods League 'Finest in the Field' this past summer for his stellar glove work at first base.
Martin was a 2018 All-NSIC Second Team recipient after hitting a career-best .349 and led Winona State with 33 RBI in 2019.
Following this weekend's road trip, the Warriors have upcoming road series at Drury University and Southwest Baptist prior to their Spring Break trip to Florida on March 5-10. Winona State is slated to open NSIC play at home on Saturday, March 14.
