St. Cloud, Minn. - Facing a St. Cloud State team that had a penchant for poaching a game or two off high-profile opponents, earning splits with nationally ranked MSU – Mankato and Augustana University earlier this year, the #20 Winona State Warrior softball team knew Saturday would be a tough test.
For head coach
Greg Jones and his team, the challenge was a formidable one with the Warriors playing in cold conditions on the road, and with one day of rest after their Thursday sweep of Concordia St. Paul.
Game One
Winona State opened the scoring in the third and concluded the scoring in sixth, but had to battle back to win game one 5-4.
After two scoreless innings for both teams, the Warriors took a lead in the top of third when
Katie Kolb hit her third home run of the season, a solo shot with one out. With the blast, things were looking similar to recent Winona State contests when a round-tripper set off a scoring rally.
However, SCSU responded and in a big way, scoring four runs of their own over the next three Husky at-bats. The offensive outburst put Winona State somewhere they had not been in a the past eight games; behind.
However, the Warriors rallied from 4-1 down when
Teaghen Amwoza drilled a three-run home run in the top of the sixth inning, scoring
Libby Neveau and
Sam Keller, tying the game in the process. It was followed moments later by a run scored by
Kayla Kerkman on a Huskie miscue to move the scoreboard to a 5-4 Warrior advantage.
After a scoreless top of the seventh for WSU, SCSU threatened the one-run Warrior lead in their final at-bats, getting two runners on board with a single and a batter hit by a pitch. At that stage though, Kleman locked down, getting Raven VandenLange to fly out and striking out Holly Wienberger to end the game, Kleman's eighth punch-out of the afternoon.
Jordyn Kleman collected her 16th win of the year, conceding four runs, two of which were earned.
Rylee Stout was also 2-for-4 at the plate.
Game Two
In game two,
Alison Nowak delivered timely hitting and
Liz Pautz put together a strong outing in the circle, allowing the Warriors to escape St. Cloud State with a sweep, earning a 3-1 nightcap victory.
SCSU started the scoring festivities in the second, with Jasmin Estrada hitting a home run with the bases empty to stake the Huskies a 1-0 lead. The Estrada hit was one of two for her and she accounted for most of the SCSU offense. The Huskies had only a handful of baserunners, with Pautz pitching a three-hitter in the nightcap.
Nowak had an answer for the Huskies with a quick response, driving in
Katie Kolb with an RBI single to knot the game at 1-1.
The score stayed level until Nowak's third trip to the plate, and with the game on the line, the senior from New Berlin, Wis. delivered.
A single scored the speedy
Katie Kolb from second as well as Gabbie Gedville who was on as a pinch-runner for
Ann Smolenski. Smolenski's single started the Warrior rally and was one of seven Winona State hits in the game.
In the bottom of the seventh, Pautz had to contend with a pair of Huskies who reached on a single and a walk and eventually made their way to scoring position.
Facing Alexandra Pinkowski at the plate and two based occupied with Huskies, Pautz struck out the final SCSU batter, ending the game and securing the sweep for Winona State. The victory was Pautz's ninth of the season; on the day, she allowed just three hits, struck out 11 and walked only one.
Katie Kolb and
Alison Nowak each had a stolen base in the game.
With the pair of victories, Winona State moves to 27-6 overall and 16-4 in NSIC play. Having now won ten straight, the Warriors travel to Duluth to face the Bulldogs at 10am and Noon on Sunday, April 25.
Fans, families and followers should note the time change for tomorrow's contests, originally set for Noon and 2pm.
