WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University baseball team earned a split with #15 Minnesota State on Friday, May 7 in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) doubleheader in the cozy confines of Loughrey Field.
The Warriors rallied behind an outstanding pitching performance by
Cameron Kramer in game one, taking the honors in a pitcher's duel, 3-1. After being held to two hits in the opener, Minnesota State warmed up just enough offensively to claim a win over WSU in game two, 5-1.
Game One
In one of the best Warrior pitching efforts of the year,
Cameron Kramer was on the mound from start to finish for head coach
Kyle Poock, as Winona State turned to some timely hitting to provide the required runs necessary to win an exceptionally well-played college baseball game.
Kramer and company dealt MSU starter Jon Ludwig a rare loss, as the WSU sophomore from Anoka, Minn. showed great control across all seven innings, striking out four while walking just one. Facing 24 batters total, Kramer allowed only two singles, a base hit in the fourth inning to MSU's Joey Werner and another single in the fifth inning to Mitch Frederick.
A passed ball and throwing error in the fourth inning accounted for the only Maverick tally, while Winona State saw
Austin Savary answer with a two-run home run in the bottom of the inning, scoring
Sam Kohnle, who singled to lead off the stanza. One inning later, WSU added an insurance run when
Nathan Loomis singled and then scored on a
Derek Martin double moments later.
The win over a nationally-ranked team was an important one for Winona State, snapping a two loss skid and moving them to 19 NSIC wins so far this season.
For Kramer, it marked his fourth win of the season, and his second complete game effort, having beat Bemidji State 10-0 on March 24.
Game Two
Austin Savary, having homered in game one, got the call on the mound in game two, making his seventh start of the season.
Minnesota State was held scoreless in the first two innings, but the Mavericks found some life in the third when a single, a bunt and another single saw MSU draw first blood, going up 1-0.
Winona State threatened in the bottom of the third, with a pair of two-out singles by
Nathan Loomis and
Nick Herbst putting the Warriors in good position to score, but the stanza ended scoreless for WSU.
The Mavericks parlayed a triple and a walk in the fourth into a three-run inning, when Ross Indlecoffer hit a home run over the right field wall, stretching the MSU lead to 4-0 midway through the game. After MSU added a fifth run in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly, Winona State got on the board in the eighth when
Carter Brinkman doubled with two outs, and then scored on a Maverick infield error.
Unfortunately for Winona State, they were unable to rally after the initial tally, as Maverick starter Brendan Knoll closed the door on any hopes of a WSU sweep, finishing off an impressive outing in dealing Winona State a 5-1 setback.
Knoll threw a complete game, striking out eight while walking one. The Warriors received a solid outing from
Austin Savary, going seven full innings, conceding six hits in the loss.
Jacob Huebsch and
Nathan Santos each went one frame, with both Warriors notching a strikeout in their time on the mound.
Winona State finishes the day at 22-17 overall, and 19-15 in NSIC play. #15 Minnesota State sits at 31-7 overall and 27-6 in league action.
The Warriors and Mavericks will meet tomorrow at noon in the rubber match in the last game of the regular season for both teams. First pitch is set for noon on May 8 at Loughrey Field.
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.
