WAYNE, Neb. - The Winona State University softball team cruised to one win and battled back to earn another, as the Warriors swept the Wayne State Wildcats to run their unbeaten streak to four games heading into the final weeks of the NSIC regular season.

Winona State started strongly and ran away to an 11-1 win in the opener and then put together an inning to remember in game two, stringing together 11 base hits in the fifth frame to flip a 3-4 deficit into a 14-3 Warrior win - and sweep - in Wayne, Neb.

Game One

Winona State scored runs in bunches in the opener, using a big second and fourth innings to break away from the host Wildcats as Warrior starter Liz Pautz cruised to her 18th win of the season. 

The WSU five-run second inning started with two runners reaching home on a pair of throwing errors to go up 2-0. Kayla Kerkman then singled to score Ann Smolenski, followed shortly by a Marissa Mullen double to left center, scoring Kerman and Sam Keller for a 5-0 Warrior lead. 

Two innings later, Abbie Hlas homered to right center, scoring Keller in the process. For Hlas, it was her fourth home run of the year and moved the Warrior advantage to 7-0. Teaghen Amwoza added two more runs, also in the fourth, when her single to left saw Engelhardt and Mullen score. 

In the bottom of the fourth, Wayne State spoiled the shutout bid by Pautz, scoring on a two-out double with a runner on base.  Marissa Mullen led the Warrior response, collected two RBI in the top of the fifth on a single to center field scoring Hlas and Keller and pushing the scoreboard to 11-1

In the game, Mullen went 4-for-4 at the plate, driving in four RBI to pace the Warrior offense. Abbie Hlas added her home run to Mullen's effort and scored two runs herself. Sam Keller scored three times for WSU, while also hitting a double. 

As a team, WSU roughed up Wayne State's starter Hadley Chvatal, racking up 12 hits in the first four innings of the game. The Warriors scored nine runs - five earned - before WSC brought on Grace Lucka to pitch the final frame.  

Pautz earned five strikeouts in the five inning affair, walking two and yielding just two hits, both doubles.  Pautz is second in the NSIC with 18 wins on the season so far and leads the league in strikeouts with 242. 

Game Two

Wayne State turned the tables on WSU to start the second game, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning and two more in the third to stake a 4-0 lead over the Warriors. Abby Smith came on in relief of starter Abbie Hlas to close out the third inning, ending the Wildcat rally by striking out WSC's Hayley Murphy. 

However, down 4-0, a bus ride back from Wayne, Neb. with a split was not in the Warrior's plans, and Winona State responded by clawing back three runs in the top of the fourth. With two outs, Libby Neveau singled and advanced Teaghen Amwoza to third, who scored moments later on a wild pitch. Cammi Riemer then hit a two-run homer, pulling her team back to within one run at 4-3 Wildcats.

Smith retired the WSC side in order in the bottom of the fourth, setting up one of the most impressive Warrior offensive innings in recent memory. 

Winona State scored eleven runs in the fifth inning - with Sam Keller the catalyst - as the Warrior center fielder hit a solo homer to start off the frame. With two outs, WSU proceeded to reel off nine consecutive base hits, scoring 10 times to break the game open. The WSU offensive barrage saw 15 Warriors earn an at-bat and take advantage of two Wildcat wild pitches to continue a rally that proved unstoppable by Wayne State.  When the dust settled, WSU led 14-4, having scored ten runs on 11 total hits.  In the improbable inning, Winona State hit a home run, three doubles and seven singles. 

The stunned Wayne State side managed a single and a stolen base in the bottom of the fifth, before Smith recorded the final three outs to end the game, 14-4 in five innings. 

In game two, the balanced Warrior lineup saw Rylee Stout, Teaghen Amwoza and Libby Neveau all collected doubles, while Sam Keller and Cammi Riemer each hit a home run. Eight different Winona State batters had at least one hit in the contest, with Abbie Hlas going 4-for-4 and Carly Engelhardt 3-for-3. 

In the circle, Hlas went two and 2/3's innings, allowing six hits and four runs. Smith threw two and 1/3's innings in relief, striking out two without allowing a walk. Smith picked up her second win of the season and Winona State has now won nine of their last ten games. 

Winona State (27-11, 13-3 NSIC) returns home for a pair of NSIC doubleheaders over Saturday, April 23 and Sunday, April 24. The Warriors will face the University of Mary on Saturday, with noon and 2 p.m. start times against the Marauders. On Sunday, WSU will host Minot State University - also in a noon and 2 p.m. format - in the final home weekend series of the 2022 season.

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.