MARYVILLE, Mo. - It was a tale of two distinctly different games for the Winona State University softball team on Saturday, as the Warriors defeated host Northwest Missouri State 24-3 in their opening game of the Fairfield Inn and Suites Classic, but were shutout in the night cap, falling to Missouri Southern, 8-0.
Winona State vs. Northwest Missouri State
Against the Bearcats, Winona State scored early and scored often, putting the game away in their first two sets of at bats.
WSU scored six runs in both the first and second innings of play, racing out to a commanding lead. Although blanked in the third frame, the Warriors then scored three runs in the fourth inning and put an exclamation point on the contest, plating nine runs in the fifth inning.
Liz Pautz took the win for Winona State moving her record to 8-3 on the year. Pautz gave up just two hits while striking out eight. Emilie Erickson pitched the final frame for WSU in relief.
Five different Winona State players hit home runs in the game, with
Rylee Stout,
Teaghen Amwoza,
Ann Smolenski,
Carly Engelhardt and
Brianna Luciano all collecting homers. Amwoza led the way with five RBI on the day, four on a grand slam shot in the fifth inning.
Marissa Mullen and
Logan Anderson both had doubles in the game.
As a team, WSU earned eight walks in the contest and the Bearcat pitching staff failed to record a single strikeout against the Warriors.
Winona State vs. Missouri Southern
WSU had their bats go from red hot to ice cold against the Lions, falling 8-0, suffering a shutout for the first time this season.
MSSU saw a seven-run third inning put them in control of the contest, having already scored one run in the top of the first inning. The Lions' Bailey Lacy went the full five innings, striking out five Warriors and walking three.
Libby Neveau and
Kayla Kerkman each collected hits for Winona State, while
Abbie Hlas and
Abby Smith shared the pitching duties. Hlas took the loss, conceding seven run, six of which were earned. Smith threw the final three innings for WSU, allowing two hits and striking out one.
Winona State returns to action tomorrow, Sunday March 20, in a rematch with Missouri Southern at 9 a.m. WSU will wrap up the Warrior weekend with an 11 a.m. game against host Northwest Missouri State.
