WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University softball team will look to conclude an important NSIC weekend with a sweep when they host Minot State University today, Sunday April 24, in a doubleheader beginning at noon. Winona State is on a six game winning streak and have earned NSIC sweeps in their last three doubleheaders.
The Warriors (29-11 / 15-3 NSIC) saw senior pitcher
Liz Pautz continue her dominant ways in the circle yesterday, as the Pulaski, Wis. product struck out 15 UMary batters in a 7-2 game one win. Pautz currently is tops in NCAA Division II softball in strikeouts-per-seven innings, notching a 12.4 mark, and is ninth nationally in the strikeout-to-walk ratio category at 7.77, K/BB. Over her career, Pautz has notched 733 strikeouts and earned 16 shutouts so far.
In game two yesterday against UMary,
Abby Smith and
Emilee Erickson combined for a 3-hit shutout of the Marauders. WSU scored a pair of touchdowns in the 14-0 win, a run output that was the third-highest scoring total in a victory this season for Winona State.
Abbie Hlas has had the hot bat all year, hitting .480 while starting all 40 games for WSU. Her 91 total bases leads the team and her 30 RBI are second only behind
Marissa Mullen's 35. Hlas is second in the NSIC in batting average, and is tied with two other players - including Minot State's Jamie Odlum - for the most hits so far in 2022 at 61.
Sam Keller continues to excel in the leadoff spot, leading the team in runs scored at 39 and owning a .439 batting average.
As a team, Winona State is tied for second overall in the NSIC in total fielding at 0.971, just barely behind Minot State at 0.973. The Warriors .346 team batting average is the second highest in the league as well.
When Winona State and Minot State face off today, the two teams rank among the top NSIC programs in terms of total wins on the season, with Warriors sitting at 29-11 while the Beavers are 27-13 overall. MSU has the top two base stealers in the league, with Kiera Shwaluk (22-27) and Odlum (21-26) looking to make things happen when they get base.
On the regional scene, Winona State is currently ranked ninth in the current NCAA Division II Central Region poll, released on April 20.
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.
