Marshall, Minn. - While the first two baseball games between Winona State University and Southwest Minnesota State University provided a showcase for productive pitching yesterday, the third and final matchup saw bats come alive for both teams on Monday.
At the final tally, the Warriors found themselves on the right side of the scoreline, beating the Mustangs 9-7.
In contrast to both contests played yesterday, the Warriors went through five pitchers, with
Justin Firpo getting the start and going three and one-third innings, conceding five runs on six hits.
Mitchell Mueller came on in relief, inheriting a three-run deficit with SMSU leading 5-2. Mueller went one and two-thirds innings, giving up two runs, one hit and walking three.
Jacob Huebsch took the mound for Winona State to start the sixth, walking just one and leaving the scoreboard unscathed, as did fellow WSU middle-reliever
Nathan Santos in the seventh. Combined, Santos and Huebsch faced 8 batters over two innings, holding SMSU scoreless in their time on the hill.
Southwest Minnesota State also had an active bullpen, throwing six players in the game. The Mustangs started the game with Teddy Broxterman and finished with Jared Tschetter. SMSU also saw Spencer Schroeder, Kobe Lovell, and Shawn Williams pitch for their team, with Williams tagged with the loss.
The WSU offense found a rhythm in game three, with
Sam Kohnle going 3-for-5 with an RBI, earning a walk, and scoring a run.
Joe Ihrke had a with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, finding himself just a home run away from hitting for the cycle, notching a single, double, and triple, while also drawing a walk.
Ihrke had an RBI and scored two runs himself in one of his best outings as a Warrior; the Henry Sibley High School product was also 3-for-5 earlier this year in a game against Minnesota - Crookston.
Four Warriors collected two hits in the game, with
Nick Herbst,
Tanner Williams,
Austin Savary and
Derek Baumgartner all making an impact offensively. Baumgartner's haul included a team-leading fourth triple, and
Austin Beyer and Williams each had a double on the day.
Winona State got on the board first, scoring one run after Ihrke doubled and was then batted in by
Nick Herbst in the top of the third. SMSU immediately responded with four runs in the bottom of the frame to take the lead.
The two teams traded runs throughout the middle innings of the contest, with the Warriors scoring twice in both the fourth and fifth innings, and once in the sixth. SMSU added to their run total, scoring three more times, and maintaining a one-run advantage until the eighth.
In the eighth inning, Winona State received back-to-back two-out singles from
Tanner Williams and
Austin Savary.
Derek Baumgartner eventually doubled to center field, scoring Williams, and tying the game at 8-8.
The eighth also saw the entry of
Nicolas Herold on the mound for the Warriors, taking over for teammate
Santos, who retired the Mustang side in the seventh.
Herold mowed down the Mustangs in short order, earning two strikeouts and coaxing a grounder to third base for the final out of the inning.
In the top of the Warrior ninth, leadoff batter
Nathan Loomis earned a walk, advanced on a
Nick Herbst base hit and later scored on a
Sam Kohnle single. Then
Tanner Williams drove a long fly ball to center, scoring
Herbst on the sacrifice and providing WSU a 9-7 advantage, their second lead of the ballgame.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, with the game on the line,
Nicolas Herold picked up where he left off in the eighth striking out the side. The Coon Rapids, Minn. senior allowed one hit, a triple, to Matt Bezdicek, the only SMSU batter to reach base with Herold on the mound.
In taking all three matchups with the Mustangs, Winona State moves to 13-10 overall, and own a 10-8 NSIC mark.
Head coach
Kyle Poock and his team stretch their winning streak to four games and will now host Minot State on Wednesday, in a site-reversal due to weather in North Dakota. The doubleheader was originally scheduled to be hosted by MSU.
For the Wednesday doubleheader against Minot State, the Warriors will be the away team and first pitch is scheduled for 1pm in the cozy confines of Loughrey Field.
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.
