CLAREMORE, Okla. - The Winona State University softball team received a stellar effort from starting pitcher Liz Pautz, but the Warrior bats were quiet in the NCAA Division II Softball Championships first round matchup against Rogers State University, with the Warriors falling to the Hillcats, 1-0. 

Pautz held host Rogers State to just two hits while striking out 14, but her counterpart Andrea Morales was equally effective for the Hillcats, pitching a one-hitter against Winona State. The difference in the contest was a second inning solo home run by Rogers State's Bridget Morales, the only extra base hit for either team in the game. 

WSU's Marissa Mullen earned two walks and Libby Neveau had the only Warrior hit on the day, a single to center field in the fop of the fifth. Neveau's base hit moved pinch runner Corinna Losheck to third with just one out, but Winona State was unable to capitalize on the opportunity. 

Winona State also put a base runner aboard in the top of the seventh with one out, via a Mullen walk. At that point, Logan Anderson came on to pinch run for Mullen but was left stranded as WSU saw the next two batters go down in order. 

The game was deep into the second inning before a batter for either side was out on anything other than a strikeout, as Pautz and Morales both struck out the opposing side in the first inning and the first two WSU batters in the second also fell victim to Morales. For Pautz, the 14 strikeouts marks the 20th time in 2022 she has reached double digits in strikeouts in a contest. The senior from Pulaski, Wis. now has 350 K's on the season and 827 in her career. 

With the loss, Winona State (40-16) will play Washburn University at 4 .p.m. on Friday, May 13 in an elimination game. Washburn lost 1-0 to Minnesota State - Mankato in game 1 of the Central Regional.  Like the WSU - Rogers State matchup, the Mavericks and Ichabods both brought their best pitching effort, with a single run in the bottom of the fifth by MSU the difference.