MINOT, N.D. - The Winona State University softball team split a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) doubleheader on Saturday, May 1, beating the Minot State Beavers 9-3 to start the day but falling to MSU 5-3 in the nightcap. 

Game One

Winona State hit the softball early and often in game one, with Alison Nowak driving in Abbie Hlas to open the scoring in the first inning, a sign of things to come throughout the opening game. 

When the dust settled after the top of the first, WSU had a 3-0 lead to start the game with Libby Neveau driving in Nowak in the same frame and Rylee Stout scoring on a errant throw. 

The Warriors would add one more in the third when Neveau again drove in Nowak to stretch the WSU advantage to 4-0, but MSU responded with their first two runs of the day in the bottom of the inning.

Head coach Greg Jones saw his team continue to pile on the runs, scoring twice in the fourth and once in the fifth to move the scoreline to 8-2, capping the two-inning scoring outburst with a Teaghen Amwoza solo home run.  Rylee Stout, Ali Nowak and Abbie Hlas all had RBIs in that stretch. 

While Minot State was able to add one more run in the bottom the fifth, the Warriors would have the final say on the scoreboard when Amwoza drove in Sam Keller on a fielder's choice, setting the final score at 9-3 in favor of Winona State. 

Jordyn Kleman earned the win for WSU, her 18th of the season.  Kleman scattered nine hits, did not walk a Beaver, and struck out nine in the game. She went the full seven innings and all three MSU runs were earned. 

Game Two 

Minot State took a page out of the Warrior game one playbook, scoring three runs in the first inning and went on to outlast WSU, 5-3 in the back half of the doubleheader. 

A sacrifice fly and a single scored three Beavers in the bottom of the opening stanza and neither team scored against until the fourth inning.  WSU got on the board in the top of the fourth when Teaghen Amwoza singled in Sam Keller, followed moments later by a Ann Smolenski single which scored Libby Neveau and Amwoza.  

However, with the score knotted at 3-3, Minot State had a fourth-inning answer for the Warriors, when Brooklyn Morrison hit a solo home run to regain the Minot State lead.  MSU added to their 4-3 advantage an inning later with a Jaycie Rostad single that scored the fifth and final Beaver run in the bottom of the sixth.  

The Winona State bats were quiet in the contest, with just two doubles among the Warriors seven hits. Abbie Hlas and Libby Neveau accounted for the extra bases.  

Liz Pautz took the loss for Winona State, moving her to 9-5 on the season. In the game, she struck out six, walked two and conceded five runs, all earned. 

Winona State will turn around and play tomorrow, traveling to and taking on the University of Mary.  First pitch is set for noon in Bismarck, North Dakota. 

For the most up to date news in Warrior Athletics, please visit:  www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com and @WinonaStateATH.

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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.