ROCHESTER, Minn. - The #23 Winona State University softball team was dealt a setback in the first round of the 2021 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Softball Tournament on Thursday, falling 2-1 to the Huskies in a noon game at the RYSCA Complex in Rochester, Minn.
The contest featured a matchup in which timely hitting and tough pitching were major factors. A St. Cloud State two-run homer by Raven Vanden Langen in the top of the fourth inning provided the Huskies the winning margin on the day. Winona State answered quickly with one run of their own in the bottom of the stanza, when
Ann Smolenski singled in
Libby Neveau to cut the SCSU lead in half.
Unfortunately, the Warriors were unable to add to their lone fourth frame tally, as SCSU pitcher Trinity Junker worked out of jams in the bottom of the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to hang on for the win. Runners left on base were the Warriors' Achilles heel, as WSU collected nine hits and three walks, but stranded ten runners total. The seventh inning was the most promising Winona State rally, as a bases-loaded one-out opportunity did not yield the Warrior walk off winner on the day.
Starting pitcher
Jordyn Kleman went the full seven innings, striking out seven while only walking one.
Katie Kolb,
Alison Nowak and
Ann Smolenski all had two hits in the contest, while
Libby Neveau,
Rylee Stout and
Teaghen Amwoza had one hit apiece.
With the loss, WSU (33-11 / 22-8 NSIC) will play again today at 4pm against Minot State (22-21 / 15-13 NSIC). MSU lost their first round matchup to the University of Sioux Falls, 10-2.
The Warriors and the Beavers split their regular season NSIC doubleheader on Saturday, May 1, as WSU won the first game 9-3 before falling in the nightcap, 5-3.
For the complete 2021 NSIC Softball Tournament Central homepage,
visit this link.
For the most up to date news in Warrior Athletics, please visit:
www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com and
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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.
