Winona, Minn. - The Winona State baseball team played in two very tight games on Saturday, as they fell 6-5 in the opening game to (RV) Augustana before coming back and taking them down 5-4 in the second contest.
With the split Winona State moves to 18-11 (15-9 NSIC) while Augustana moves to 23-8 (19-8 NSIC).
Game One
After going down 1-0 in the top of the first, Winona State tied things up as
Tanner Williams hit a triple to right field, then scored moments later on a passed ball.
The Vikings added to their lead in the third, scoring three runs on three hits to make it a 4-1 game.
When
Sam Kohnle stepped into the batter's box with runners on first and second in the fifth, everyone in the stadium knew there was a good chance an RBI was coming. The senior has been one of the most consistent players in Winona State baseball history, moving up the career singles, hits and RBI leaderboards every game. What no one expected was a 3-run home run, which is exactly what happened next. The Tisch Mills, Wis. native, who has never hit a long ball in his entire career, hit an absolute rocket to right field to lock the game up at four and give Winona State a fighting chance.
Winona State took a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the sixth with
Derek Baumgartner taking advantage of a miscue by the Augie shortstop to score from second.
Unfortunately for the Warriors, Augustana used a 2-run home run in the top of the seventh to give them the 6-5 victory.
Nicolas Herold (1-2) took the loss for the Warriors.
Austin Savary went 2-for-3 at the plate while Kohnle led the way with 3 RBI's.
Game Two
WSU scored four runs in the top of the first to take command early in game two.
Tanner Williams started things off with a 2 RBI single to score
Nick Herbst and
Derek Martin.
Sam Kohnle scored two batters later on a bases loaded walk by
Zac Stange. Williams would use crafty baserunning to score the Warriors final run of the inning while the Vikings were attempting to pickoff Stange.
Winona State added an important insurance run in the bottom of the third with Kohnle scoring on an RBI single from
Joe Ihrke.
The Vikings chipped away at the Warriors lead to cut it to a one-run game going into the top of the ninth. After the first batter of the inning reached on an error, centerfielder
Nathan Loomis made an incredible diving catch in the outfield to keep the Vikings at bay. Freshman
Mitchell Mueller would then strike out the final two batters of the game to secure the victory.
Austin Savary (2-1) was solid in the win, pitching seven innings while striking out three and allowing just two earned runs in the process. Mueller (S, 2) struck out four of the seven batters he faced to close out the game.
Kohnle went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in the win, while Williams led the way with two RBI's.
The Warriors will face Augustana in game three of the weekend series tomorrow in Winona. First pitch is set for 10 a.m.
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
