Winona State earned a berth in the 2021 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) baseball postseason with a 22-20 overall mark and a 19-16 NSIC record. The 2022 Warrior squad looks poised to make a return trip to the playoffs this year and build off last spring’s success.
WSU returns several key offensive threats, led by Baumgartner a senior from Almond, Wis. Baumgartner hit .288 in 2021, with five home runs and 26 RBI’s overall. As a respected team leader, Baumgartner will be a key conduit between the coaching staff and the Warrior dugout.
On the mound, the Warriors expect Whittaker and Nick Herold to be two of several key arms for Winona State. Herald is coming off an All-Star season in the Northwoods league this past summer and was the top Warrior reliever last year. In 2021, Herold made 18 appearances for WSU, tossing nearly 23 innings, and allowing just 12 hits over that time period. Whittaker made 10 appearances, including nine starts, and threw 29 2/3 innings, notching 41 strikeouts.
In the coaches' poll, Minnesota State collected nine first place votes for 190 points, just edging out Augustana University in second place with 188 points. The Vikings received six first place nods. At seventh, Winona State mirrors their finish in the 2021 regular season last spring. Seven of the top eight teams in the 2022 poll were among the playoff participant squads which participated in the NSIC postseason last year.
