Winona, Minn. - The Winona State University softball team – most recently ranked #11 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll – will head west this weekend for a pair of doubleheaders that could factor significantly in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) post-season picture.
 
The Warriors currently sport a 16-5 overall record and a 5-3 mark in conference competition and will face the University of Sioux Falls on Saturday and Southwest Minnesota State University on Sunday. Saturday's series at USF is set for a 1pm start while the games on Sunday are set for noon.
 
The Warriors will look to reset on the road trip, coming off a pair of losses at the hands of #20 Minnesota State – Mankato at home on Tuesday.  Fans were treated to two of the top pitchers in the NSIC in the opener as Minnesota State's Mackenzie Ward out-dueled Winona State's Jordyn Kleman in a 3-1 opening game; the Mavericks pulled away early in the nightcap, winning 11-2 in five innings.

Historically, matchups with the Cougars and Mustangs have been favorable to the Warriors.  Head coach Greg Jones and his teams have gone 13-2 against USF in their last fifteen matchups, while the Mustangs have not defeated Winona State since a 2-1 win in April of 2009.

Hear more from head coach Greg Jones as he talks with HBC sports director Justin Barrientos about the Warrior season so far.

Warrior Notes
 
Jordyn Kleman is one win away from tying the all-time wins mark at Winona State. Her next victory will put Kleman at 85, a mark currently owned by Cyndy Schubbe, who played at WSU between 1999-02. 
 
Also in the WSU top-20 in victories with 29, Liz Pautz surpassed three former Warriors earlier this year and is closing in on Kristine Dzurisian's 13^th place 32 wins.
 
Abbie Hlas picked up her first Warrior win of the season, and her career, against Northern State on April 3 in a 10-9 victory at home.
 
With a pair of walks in the MSU-Mankato doubleheader on Tuesday, senior Katie Kolb became the all-time leader in free passes at Winona State. The 127 walks in her career has paid off on the scoreboard, as the effective lead-off Warrior is tied for ninth in runs scored with two other WSU standouts, Terra Halron and Jamie Kettwig, at 164 runs scored.
 
Offensively, Katie Kolb currently is batting .448, earned across 58 at-bats.  Abbie Hlas has eight extra-base hits, with six doubles, a triple and a home run to her credit.  Libby Neveau leads the Warriors in home runs with six, just ahead of teammate Rylee Stout at five.
 
About the Cougars
 
Kaitlyn VanDerZwaag and Hanna Cress have handled the majority of the pitching duties for USF so far this year.  VanDerZwaag is 5-4 heading into the weekend, while Cress is 6-6 overall.
 
Damaris Cuevas is the top USF performer at the plate with a .475 batting average; the next closest Cougar is Kylan Straight at .297. 
 
In addition to pitching, VanDerZwaag has 17 hits and team-leading 17 RBI's on the year. She has hit two home runs for the Cougars.
 
Shayla Running has struck out only three times in 57 at-bats for the Cougars, and is third on the team in batting average at .281.
 
As a team USF has the green light on the basepaths, with 15 stolen bases in 17 attempts.  Straight leads her team with five so far.
 
Sioux Falls has two sweeps to their credit on the year, taking two from Minnesota-Crookston and Wayne State College.  WSC was the most recent opponent for USF.
 
USF has been shutout four times this year, and have earned one shutout, against Pittsburg State, in their early-season meeting on February 27.
 
 
About the Mustangs
 
In the circle, SMSU's Megan Cull is an impressive 8-1 on the year and has collected one save.
 
Allison Christians and Shelby Bloemendall both have 3-2 records, with Bloemendall throwing three complete games for the Mustangs.

Two SMSU standouts are currently hitting over the .400 mark this season; Emma Grote heads into the weekend at .457 while Lileya Kebos is at .429.
 
Bailey Johnson, Kali Tomlinson and the aforementioned Lebos each have 27 hits so far in 2021, second highest on the team behind Grote.
 
Tomlinson is tops in home runs for the Mustangs, with seven.
 
As a team on the basepaths, SMSU is 7-of-8 on stolen base attempts this year.
 
The Mustangs have struck out 82 times while earning 33 walks.  Their team batting average is .330 in their 20 games so far.
 
 Both Winona State softball doubleheaders will be available on the NSIC Network.  

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.