ROCHESTER, Minn. – Winona State University softball standout Libby Neveau earned a spot on the 2022 NSIC Gold Glove team for her stellar work at third base this season.  She can hit, too.

Neveau belted a grand slam over the right field fence, capping a Warrior comeback that saw Winona State rally late to defeat Concordia, St. Paul 8-7 in the opening game of the 2022 NSIC Softball Tournament in Rochester on Thursday.

Neveau's four-run home run came moments after Warrior teammate Rylee Stout hit a two-run homer to spark the comeback in wild contest that saw five different pitchers take the circle between the two teams.

Concordia St. Paul came out swinging in the first inning, roughing up Warrior starter Liz Pautz for two runs in the first inning and three runs in the second frame to stake a 5-0 lead over WSU early on.  The Golden Bears took advantage of two walks and three base hits in their first at-bats and three singles in the second stanza to score five runs. In contrast, Winona State was held to two hits, a Marissa Mullen single in the first and Kayla Kerkman base hit in the second.

In the third inning, Pautz gave way to Abby Smith, who retired the CSP side in order in the third. In a sign of things to come, however, the Warriors' third base hit of the day went a long way, as Carly Engelhardt homered in the bottom of the third to crack the scoreboard for the WSU at 5-1.

After a scoreless fourth frame for both teams, WSU doubled their run total in the fifth, as a Marissa Mullen double into the right field corner put a Warrior in scoring position to start the inning. Corinna Loshek came on to pinch run for Mullen and eventually scored on an RBI ground ball by Ann Smolenski.

CSP responded with two more runs of their own to go up 7-2 in the top of the sixth, as a Golden Bear double and two singles resulted in a pair of scores.

Down 7-2, Winona State came up to bat in the bottom of the sixth inning and things changed.

Sam Keller led off with a single up the middle and scored when Abbie Hlas hit a homer to right field. For Hlas, it marked her seventh home run of the season, and for the team, started what would be an amazing comeback.

CSP replaced starter Bryanna Olson with Kristi Pitz after the Hlas home run, but Rylee Stout doubled and Mullen earned a walk in her first two batters faced. The Golden Bears then turned to Erica McCullough in the circle, their third pitcher of the contest and the inning.

McCullough walked the first Warrior she faced, Carly Engelhardt, bringing up Libby Neveau. Neveau ripped a line drive that continued to climb as it left the infield and cleared the right field fence by a few feet, setting off a celebration in the Winona State dugout and among the Warrior faithful in attendance. Up 8-7, WSU was unable to add further to their lead, but as the home time, headed into the seventh needing three outs to advance.

With one out and after CSP's second batter earned first base with a walk, Liz Pautz returned to the game in the circle for Smith.  Pautz struck out Clara Heislen to earn the second out, but back-to-back walks loaded the bases for CSP.  However, Pautz then struck out A Parsons to end the game and advance Winona State to the next round.

Abby Smith earned the win, while Liz Pautz was credited with the save. The Warrior staff combined for five strikeouts, walked seven and conceded seven runs, all earned.

Offensively, Carly Engelhardt was 2-for-3 with a walk, and Rylee Stout was 2-for-3 as well. Marissa Mullen and Stout accounted for the two WSU doubles on the day, while Hlas, Engelhardt and Neveau all had homers, including Neveau's game-winning grand slam.

Winona State advances to the second day and will play Friday at noon, facing the winner of Minnesota State – Mankato and Upper Iowa.