O'Fallon, IL – In a game that saw 32 combined runs, 31 combined hits, and 12 total pitchers, the McKendree Bearcats used a six-run eighth inning to come back and take down the Warriors by a score of 17-15. The 32 combined runs are the most in a Winona State baseball game since WSU defeated Bemidji State 20-12 back in April of 2012.
Lane Koenig (1-0) would get the win for the Bearcats, while
Justin Firpo (0-1) would take the loss for the Warriors.
WSU got on the board early as
Zac Stange scored on a wild pitch to put the Warriors up 1-0 right off the bat.
Austin Savary would knock an RBI double down the left field line just a few batters later to score
Sam Kohnle and extend the lead to 2-0.
The second inning saw
Derek Baumgartner take advantage of a McKendree miscue to give WSU a 3-2 lead.
Following a three-run second inning by the Bearcats, senior
Tanner Williams blasted a two-run home run to right center to tie the game at five.
Winona State opened the fifth inning by taking advantage of four straight walks to score a run to cut the Bearcat lead to 8-6. Winona State tied the game at eight one batter later as
Blake Kretovics hit a two RBI single down the left field line.
Following a run by McKendree in the bottom of the fifth, Savary tied the game at nine with a single to score
Derek Martin.
Winona State came alive in the seventh, scoring five runs in the frame. Stange opened the scoring with a sac fly to score
Jake Brill, followed by a Williams walk to score
Nathan Loomis. Savary scored one an RBI single, then
Nick Herbst gave the Warriors a 14-10 lead with a 2 RBI double to right center.
The Warriors final run of the game came in the top of the eighth on a
Sam Kohnle RBI single.
McKendree scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth to give them a two-run leading heading into ninth.
The Warriors managed to load the bases in the top of the ninth but could not get a run across.
Savary led the Warriors by going 3-5 with three RBIs.
Nathan Loomis was able to draw a team high three walks on the day.
Winona State will look to brush off this tough loss as they travel to Springfield, MO next weekend. WSU is set to face off against Drury at 12 p.m. on Saturday, followed by a matchup against Maryville at 3:30. The Warriors will conclude their Missouri trip on Sunday, March 7 in a second game against Maryville, with first pitch set for noon.
For the most up to date news in Warrior Athletics, please visit: www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com and @WinonaStateATH.
About Winona State University Athletics:
The Winona State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, as an integral part of the educational mission of the institution, is committed to offering opportunities to experience academic and athletic excellence for our student-athletes through two simple words: Graduate Champions.
Fourteen Warrior programs compete at the NCAA Division II level within the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Winona State University competes as an affiliate member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in the sport of women's gymnastics.
Media Contact: Pete Watkins, Director of Athletic Communications | Ph: 507.457.5577 | Email: pwatkins@winona.edu
