WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State University softball team earned a pair of exciting NSIC victories on Sunday, outlasting Minot State University in game one and winning game two in dramatic walk-off fashion, thanks to an impressive performance from a super sub.
Winona State beat MSU in the opener 7-5, as
Liz Pautz collected her 20
th win of the season in a complete game effort. In game two,
Logan Anderson came off the bench to deliver two home runs and a game-winning sacrifice fly in accounting for all the WSU offense in a 4-3 victory over the Beavers.
Game One
WSU and Minot State traded blows throughout the game as the Warriors scored two runs in the second, taking advantage of a pair of errors in the Beaver infield to score
Libby Neveau and
Ann Smolenski.
The Beavers tied the game in the third with a single that scored a pair of baserunners, but WSU responded in the bottom of the same frame.
Teaghen Amwoza drove in pinch-runner Corrina Loshek to move the score to 3-2, followed moments later by a Smolenski single that scored Amwoza.
Kayla Kerkman continued the rally by driving in
Libby Neveau, staking WSU a 6-2 lead.
Rylee Stout added another Warrior run by driving in
Abbie Hlas for a 7-2 scoreline but Minot State battled back.
The Beavers added one run in the fifth followed by another in the sixth inning to close the game to 7-4 in favor of the Warriors. A Lenora Watson solo home run in the seventh reduced the Warrior lead to two runs at 7-5, but Pautz produced a pair of ground ball outs to end the game.
Pautz struck out six and did not allow a walk in the contest. Minot State plated five runs, all earned, while Winona State took advantage of four Minot State errors.
Kayla Kerkman was 2-for-3 with an RBI, while
Rylee Stout added a pair of base hits.
Libby Neveau and
Ann Smolenski both scored twice as Winona State racked up eight hits in the game.
Game Two
Abby Smith earned the start in game two and went the distance to collect her second-straight win and fourth victory on the year.
WSU was down 1-0 when Warrior freshman
Logan Anderson entered the game in the fourth inning and promptly hit a solo home run to a tie the game at one apiece.
After the Beavers went back on top with two runs in their next at-bats, Anderson answered the call, again.
A
Rylee Stout single to center brought up Anderson who hit a homer to left field to tie the game at 3-3. WSU was unable to capitalize on a
Teaghen Amwoza single later in the frame, leaving the contest deadlocked.
Winona State had played tremendous defensively in both games and that effort was highlighted a heads up play by
Abbie Hlas to throw out a Beaver baserunner at home which allowed WSU to exit the top of the seventh without conceding a run.
Playing in walk-off win territory, Winona State was able to load the bases in the bottom of the seventh on a Kerkman single and
Sam Keller fielders' choice in which Minot State failed to record an out. After a Hlas walk, MSU was able to gain a force out at home on a ground ball in the infield.
With one out, Anderson returned to the batter's box just long enough to deliver an arching fly ball to left field. Tagging up,
Sam Keller easily beat the throw to the plate for the walk-off win, 4-3. With her sacrifice fly and two home runs earlier in the game, Anderson accounted for all four Winona State RBIs in the victory.
Abby Smith struck out three Minot State hitters, walked one and allowed three runs, all earned. Her fourth victory of the season - combined with Pautz's win in game one - moves the Warriors to a 31-11 overall record and 17-3 mark in the NSIC.
Winona State will travel to Mankato to take on Minnesota State on Tuesday, April 26. The NSIC doubleheader between the Mavericks and Warriors is set to start at 2 pm.
