WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University softball team stacked back-to-back dominant pitching performances on Sunday to claim a sweep of Southwest Minnesota State and move to 4-0 in the 2022 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) campaign. 

Liz Pautz pitched WSU to a 10-2 opening game win and Abbie Hlas shut down the Mustang bats in the second contest, earning a complete-game 11-0 shutout win. 

Game One

After throwing a perfect game against the University of Sioux Falls in game one and winning in relief in game two on Saturday, Liz Pautz picked up where she left off on Sunday versus the Mustangs with another tremendous performance in the circle. 

Pautz threw a two-hitter and struck out seven while picking up her 12th win of the season. SMSU did not register a base hit until the fourth inning when an Emily Tatur bunt single broke up the Pautz no-hit bid. After an error by the Warriors and another single, SMSU scored their only two runs of the game and of the afternoon. 

While the WSU pitching was on point, the Warrior offense opened up early and often on Mustang starter Morgyn Otte.  Winona State scored five runs in the first inning, breaking the game wide open in their first at-bats. The Warriors would go on to score single runs in the second and fifth frames and enjoyed a three-run third inning as well.  

Unlike Saturday which saw power-hitting rule the day for the Warriors, Sunday's opener was small-ball, timely hitting, and aggressive base running.

Leadoff hitter Sam Keller was 3-for-4 in the game with three RBI while scoring twice. Keller had two doubles, including the leadoff hit the first that set the tone for Winona State.. Abbie Hlas and Kayla Kerkman both racked up a pair of hits, while Carly Engelhardt had three RBI on the day. 

As a team, Winona State drew eight walks to go with their 11 base hits in the game   WSU chased Otte from the circle after two innings, tagging her with the loss. SMSU finished game one with two runs on two hits and did not commit an error.

Game Two

Starting pitcher Abbie Hlas was dialed in in game two, earning a five-inning 11-0 shutout win.  Mustang baserunners were few and far between, with SMSU earning only one walk and managed just three hits. 

Winona State scored in every frame of the game, more than doubling their 4-0 lead after two innings with a five-run third inning that put the game out of reach. In addition to her strong pitching performance, Hlas was hot at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBI. Carly Engelhardt was 3-for-3 in the contest with a pair of RBI, and Rylee Stout and Sam Keller collected two hits apiece. 

Hlas had a no-hit bid going into the fourth when a pair of seeing-eye singles put runners on the corners for the Mustangs with two outs.  However, Warrior catcher Cammi Riemer threw out SMSU's Molly Bull on a steal attempt, stopping the rally and ending the inning. 

Strong Warrior defense in the fifth inning protected the shutout, including a strong stop by Hlas on a comeback hit up the middle with two runners in scoring position to end the game. 

Winona State racked up 11 runs on 14 hits and committed one error, while SMSU was held scoreless, had three hits, and committed three miscues. 

Up next for Winona State (18-8, 4-0 NSIC) is their first NSIC road trip of the year, as they head to Sioux Falls, S.D. to take on Augustana University.  First pitch in the Warriors - Vikings doubleheader is set for 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6.