ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - The Winona State University softball team returns to action this weekend with five games at the Lewis University Dome Invitational to be held over the weekend of Friday, Feb. 25 through Sunday, Feb. 27.
Winona State (4-2, 0-0 NSIC) is led by reigning NSIC Pitcher of the Week
Liz Pautz who is unbeaten on the season in the circle at 3-0. Pautz is putting down opposition batters at a prodigious rate, racking up strikeout totals of 13, 16 and 13 in her starts since the season began.
At the plate,
Abbie Hlas has seven hits in 17 at bats with a pair of doubles and three RBI.
Rylee Stout,
Ann Smolenski,
Libby Neveau and
Teaghen Amwoza all have tagged home runs so far in 2022 while both
Logan Anderson and
Sam Keller have successfully stolen a base. Stout leads the team in slugging percentage at .722 and
Marissa Mullen has drawn three walks so far this season, as has Hlas.
In Illinois, the Warriors will face five different NCAA Division II teams across a range of regions and conferences.
While live stream and live stats are not provided from the tournament, fans who attend in person can should note that spectators will be able to pre-purchase tickets for the entire tournament for $25.00, on-line, as well as individual "Day Passes" for $10.00, for each day of the tournament. All tickets must be purchased online. There will be QR codes to purchase on-site with a credit card. For ease of entry into the complex and to reduce wait time it is recommend to
visit this link to purchase prior to arrival at The Dome.
To purchase tickets, follow the link below and scroll down to find the "Softball" options on the screen. Once tickets are purchased, fans can either use the QR code on their phone for entry into the complex or print the tickets and show the printed ticket upon entry.
Due to current Cook County restrictions, all attendees must be fully masked within the facility, regardless of vaccination status. As a result of the pandemic, the facility will not be operating a concession stand. Fans are able to bring in their own food and drink.
Read on for more regarding the Warrior weekend ahead:
WAYNE STATE (MI) UNIVERSITY: The 'other' WSU Warriors are 1-1 on the young season, having played two opening contests in the Lewis Invitational on Thursday, Feb. 24. The Warriors were tabbed to finish fifth by coaches around the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) in the league's preseason poll. The Warrior softball program is under the guidance of first-year head coach
Nicole Tines, and assistant coach
Hannah McClounie, who took over the reins from Gary Bryce, who retired last May after 40 seasons at the helm. Wayne State has 14 returning letter winners, but just three starters at non-pitching positions led by fifth-year seniors
Rose Myers (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester) and
Rainey Psenicka (Guelph, Ont.). Myers has made 127 starts across all four infield positions, but primarily at third base. Psenicka, who has started 166 contests, including 151 games at second base, enters her final campaign with a .309 career batting average (169-for-547) and nearly twice as many walks (37) as strikeouts (19) in her career. Winona State owns a 3-2 mark against Wayne State, stretching back to February 20, 2015. The two teams have tangled exclusively at the Lewis Dome Tournament over the history of the series.
SAGINAW VALLEY STATE (MI) UNIVERSITY: Like their GLIAC peers Wayne State, Saginaw Valley State split their day one contests at Lewis, starting the season 1-1.
The SVSU softball team finished the 2021 season with a 29-17 overall record and 17-13 mark in
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. In their opening action, the Cardinals started the season with a comeback win, topping NSIC foe Upper Iowa University 2-1. Lewis University held SVSU off the board in the second game of the day, topping the Cardinals 4-0. The split opens the season for the Cardinals at 1-1 overall.
Emily Depew (1-0) went all seven innings on the mound for SVSU, allowing one run on eight hits, walking one and striking out six. The Warriors enjoy a 3-0 record against the Cardinals dating back to 2015; WSU has defeated SVSU twice in Rosemont and once in Florida over that time.
URSULINE COLLEGE: The Arrows are 2-5 so far in 2022 and are 1-3 at the Lewis Invitational prior to Friday. In the circle, UC is led by Nicole Rawlings with a 1.11 ERA in three appearances. Tara Backherms is 1-0 for the Arrows having one start and two appearances to her credit. At the plate, Ursuline is led by Sara Fessler with a .438 BA in 16 at-bats so far. She has tagged a home run, two triples and double so far this season for head coach Sue Woodford. The meeting between the two teams will be the first matchup between Winona State and Ursuline College. UC is located in Pepper Pike, Ohio.
GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY: Grand Valley State softball was selected as the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) preseason favorite in the coaches' poll. The Lakers received the maximum number of points, earning all seven possible first-place votes in the eight-team league. The Lewis Dome Tournament represents the start of the Laker's 2022 campaign. GVSU returns the bulk of their starting lineup back this season and currently own a preseason national top-10 ranking. GVSU is the twice-defending Midwest Region champions and will be looking to earn a third straight trip to the Women's College World Series. Redshirt-junior
Hannah Beatus leads the pitching staff after unanimous All-America honors in 2021. She led the nation with 28 complete games, third in wins (25), fourth in games started (30), 11
th in strikeouts (205) and 21
st in ERA (1.33). Winona State owns a slight edge over GVSU all-time, with nine Warriors wins compared to seven losses.
WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE: WJC
is coming off an 0-3 opening weekend that saw them hold leads in each game, before opponents put up late rallies. Freshman
Sydney Cure led the offense, hitting .500 on the weekend which included a double and two RBI.
Abby Vandiver also hit .500 going 3-for-6 with a run scored.
Kenzie Jones started two of three games, working 13.2 innings with a 4.10 ERA.
Aliyah Santiago got her first career start against Southeastern Oklahoma, striking out seven.
Dustin Combs begins his 16
th season with the Cardinals, chasing win No. 400 for his career and a return to the GLVC Tournament for the first time since 2018. Winona State holds a 2-0 win mark over WJC, dating back to February 24, 2017.
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.
