Winona, Minn. - The Winona State University baseball team will look to continue their winning ways this afternoon when the Warriors host the University of Mary in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) doubleheader at Loughrey Field.
First pitch for the Warrior - Marauder matchup will be at 1:30pm.
WSU has won their last five ballgames, taking a two-game series against Bemidji State on March 24, winning 5-2 and 10-0, as well as a rare three-win day on Sunday, March 28, when the Warriors won by 6-5, 12-1, and 5-4 scorelines over the University of Minnesota Duluth. All five recent victories were within the friendly confines of Loughrey Field, where head coach
Kyle Poock and his team are 5-3 so far this season. Overall, Winona State sits at 8-5 and own a 5-3 NSIC mark.
The University of Mary is 4-6 overall and 2-3 in NSIC action. Most recently, the Marauders dropped a three-game series to league-leading Minnesota State - Mankato. Offensively, UMary is paced by Derek Shoen who is hitting .367 and Calvin James who is batting .324 overall and has three home runs on the year. James leads the Marauders with eight RBIs.
On the UMary mound, two pitchers have produced two wins each, with Jonathan Draheim and Liam Sommer both at 2-0 on the year. Paxton Miller has picked up a save for the Marauders.
Winona State has enjoyed a stellar season so far from
Sam Kohnle, who is hitting .457 while appearing in all 13 Warrior contests this year. Kohnle has cracked three doubles and plated 12 RBIs.
Derek Baumgartner is hitting .368 overall and leads the team in home runs with three as well as runs batted in at 13. Overall, WSU has six players over the .300 mark, as
Carter Brinkman,
Tanner Williams,
Jake Brill and
Derek Martin all have had their sights dialed in on opposing pitching so far this season.
The Warrior pitching staff has performed particularly well in the past five WSU victories;
Kyle Gendron is 3-1 on the year, tossing a strong five innings against UMD, while
Mitchell Mueller made his mark with his first save of the year against the Bulldogs.
Austin Savary threw a complete-game win over the weekend, beating the Bulldogs 12-1 and
Dillon Whittaker went strong seven innings in game one against UM-Duluth, striking out 12 while only allowing six hits and one earned run.
Justin Firpo found the winning formula in extra innings against the Bulldogs, earning the win in the 12th inning in a bonus baseball outing on Sunday.
Cameron Kramer is 1-0 on the season so far and has a 1.59 ERA, second-best on the squad.
Bailey Banaszynski is third on the team in innings pitched at 17 and owns a 2-0 record in four appearances.
The Winona State - UMary matchup at Loughrey Field is available on the NSIC Network; gates open at Loughrey Field at 12:30pm today.
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
