WAYNE, Neb. - The Winona State University baseball team competes today, April 27, in Wayne, Neb., taking on Wayne State College in a NSIC doubleheader beginning at 1:30 p.m.

The two teams last faced off in an NSIC doubleheader last spring also in Wayne, in a pair of games in which the Warriors swept the Wildcats by 11-6 and 6-2 scorelines. WSU heads into today's game one on a three-game winning streak versus WSC and Winona State owns a 10-7 record over Wayne State, dating back to April of 2012.

Winona State 11-19, 9-10 NSIC) is coming off a two-game sweep over Upper Iowa on Sunday, April 24, where the Warriors outlasted the Peacocks in close ballgames, prevailing 5-4 in game one and 6-4 in game two.  The third contest between the two teams was canceled due to cold temperatures. In contrast, Wayne State is on a five-game skid, most recently dropping a three-game series against the University of Sioux Falls. 

Carter Brinkman is batting .312 on the season for Winona State, while Derek Baumgartner leads the team in home runs with six. Nick Herbst is a perfect 3-for-3 in stolen bases, and Joshua Hawksford brings the hot bat into today's matchup at Wayne State, riding a five-game hitting streak.  Hawksford homered twice in the WSU 5-4 win over Upper Iowa on Sunday. 

On the mound, Nicolas Herold, Kyle Gendron and Caleb Strack have combined for eight Warrior wins on the season, while Zach Watzka and Justin Firpo have been mainstays in the bullpen with 13 and 12 relief appearances, respectively. 

In the NSIC baseball ranks, Winona State is sitting on a .474 conference winning percentage, good for sixth place currently.  WSC is ninth in the league standings with a .455 NSIC win mark. 

For the most up-to-date news in Warrior Athletics, please visit: www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com and @WinonaStateATH.
 

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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.