PITTSBURG, Kan. – The Winona State University softball team dropped the first of two games today to Pittsburg State but bounced back nicely to avenge yesterday's loss with a win over Drury University.
Game One
The Warriors got the bats rolling in the opening inning, with an
Abbie Hlas double followed by a
Rylee Stout single.
Marissa Mullen then drove in Hlas on a single through the left side. Unfortunately for WSU, they were unable to get another run across the plate. Pittsburg State used six extra-base hits, including two home runs, in the third inning to bring in seven runs on six hits. The following inning, the Gorillas hit for two more deep balls, including a three-run homer, to plate five more runs. PSU retired the side in the top of the fifth to end the game in five innings.
Kayla Kerkman went 2-2 at the plate, while Hlas also recorded two hits and WSU's only run. Mullen went 1-2 and added an RBI, while Stout and
Sam Keller each recorded a hit for the Warriors.
Emilee Erickson and
Brianna Luciano each saw time in the circle, with Erickson recording the loss for Winona State.
Game Two
After falling to Drury University, a day ago, Winona State bounced back nicely with an all-around effort to win 3-2.
Liz Pautz worked nicely in the circle for WSU, striking out 13 batters en route to allowing just two runs and picking up the complete-game win.
The third inning proved to be the difference maker in the game, where the Warriors took advantage of Drury fielding errors and scored three runs on two hits.
Rylee Stout,
Libby Neveau, and
Teaghen Amwoza each drove in runs in the third inning to give Pautz and the defense enough run support for the game.
Four different Warriors earned hits in the game as
Logan Anderson,
Abbie Hlas,
Rylee Stout, and
Sam Keller were key in the Winona State batting lineup.
Winona State (4-2, 0-0 NSIC) will now turn their attention to the Lewis University Tournament, when they will play five games from Feb. 25-27 in Romeoville, Ill. WSU opens the tournament with Wayne State University and Saginaw Valley State University on Friday, Feb. 25 at 6pm and 8pm.
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.
