WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Winona State University softball team opened their spring break trip in Florida with a two-game split on day one. The Warriors fell 1-8 to Davenport University but bounced back with a 5-0 win over Wilmington University in the second game of the day.

Winona State vs. Davenport
The Warriors opened up play in the Sunshine State with a showdown against Davenport University.  WSU earned the game's first run in the third inning when Sam Keller started the inning with a single to center field. Abbie Hlas advanced Keller to second on a sacrifice bunt, then Rylee Stout sent Keller home on a single to the outfield to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead. Davenport answered back in the fourth inning to tie the game at one apiece. The game stayed quiet until the sixth inning when the Panthers scored seven runs on six hits, including two home runs. WSU was unable to answer in the last two innings and dropped the decision, 1-8.

Liz Pautz started in the circle for Winona State, pitching 5.1 innings and allowing five runs before Emilee Erickson finished the final 1.2 innings of the game, allowing 3 runs on two hits. Keller had a great game at the plate, going 3-4 and scoring the Warriors lone run of the game. Stout went 2-4 and drove in Keller in the third inning to earn an RBI.


Winona State vs. Wilmington
Winona State was able to bounce back half an hour after their first game of the day concluded with a great all-around performance to defeat Wilmington University, 5-0.

Abbie Hlas started in the circle for the Warriors and stayed their all seven innings, pitching a complete-game shutout to earn the win for WSU. Hlas allowed zero runs on seven hits, while striking out five batters.

In a game that was knotted up 0-0 heading into the top of the fourth inning, Brianna Luciano homered to left field to open the scoring for WSU to take a 1-0 lead. In the top of the sixth, Ann Smolenski added to the party, hitting a solo home run that started a two-out rally for the Warriors. A Luciano walk followed by a Cammi Riemer double allowed Kayla Kerkman to bat in two runs on a single to left field and build the Warriors lead to 4-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth. Corinna Loshek added an extra insurance run for the defense when she brought in Zoe May on a fielder's choice in the seventh inning. Hlas was able to strand two Wildcat runners on base in the bottom of the seventh to wrap up her complete-game performance as the Warriors defeated Wilmington 5-0.

Kerkman, Riemer, and Rylee Stout each went 2-3 to lead the Warriors lineup that garnered nine hits, including five extra-base hits.

Winona State will be back in action tomorrow when they play against Southern Indiana at 9am EST and then University of the Sciences at 1:30pm EST. Both contests are in Winter Haven, Fla. at the DiamondPlex Softball Complex.
 
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.