ROCHESTER, Minn. – Playing on Championship Saturday in the NSIC Softball Tournament, the Winona State Warriors took on the University of Sioux Falls in Rochester with both teams looking to earn the right to advance.
Winona State (40-14) found themselves facing the Cougars due to the USF upset of Minnesota State – Mankato in the 10 a.m. game earlier in the day.
Although Sioux Falls, the ninth seed, wore the Cinderella slipper for much of the Tournament, Winona State was busy writing their own storyline, and ended the Cougars upset campaign with a 6-2 Warrior win.
The first inning saw Warrior starter
Liz Pautz and Cougars pitcher Hannah Cress both start well, holding both lineups scoreless in the first frames.
In the bottom of the second, the Warriors'
Marissa Mullen drew a walk to open the inning followed by a long
Carly Engelhardt double. Mullen made it to third on the drive, putting two runners in scoring position.
Libby Neveau promptly earned another free pass to load the bases.
With the bases full,
Teaghen Amwoza ripped a single to left field, scoring Mullen and Engelhardt. Amwoza – who had a triple on Friday against MSU Mankato – was not on first for long, as senior
Ann Smolenski followed with a line-drive double to right to add to the WSU scoreline
The Warrior barrage led to the departure of Cress and saw USF bring on Kait Van Der Zwagg facing senior
Kayla Kerkman, WSU runners on second and third, and no outs. Kerkman produced a hard-hit ball but it was snagged by the USF shortstop for the first out of the inning.
Sam Keller drove a long fly ball to left-center to score Amwoza, moving the scoreline to 4-0 in favor of Winona State.
Abbie Hlas joined the hit parade in the second, driving a single to center field, scoring Smolenski. Although Hlas was thrown out trying to gain second on the play, the damage was done with Winona State grabbing a 5-0 lead after two.
The Cougars attempted a response in the top half of the third with a pair of seeing eye singles putting USF runners at first and second. However, Pautz worked her way out potential rally, striking out Van der Zwaag to end the inning.
Winona State added one more run in the bottom of the fourth, thanks in large part to a perfectly executed Kayla Kerman bunt after a Warrior teammate reached base. Then,
Sam Keller hit an RBI single down the right-field line. Hlas nearly extended the rally with a long drive to right-center that was snagged in a diving play by the USF outfield, saving two more potential Warrior runs.
USF spoiled the shutout with a two-run Van Der Zwagg home run, the only extra-base hit for the Cougars on the day.
In addition to a great day at the plate for Winona State, the Warriors were dialed in defensively, highlighted by a Kayla Kerman catch in foul territory, sprinting to haul in a drive just before crashing into the fence, holding on for the out.
Liz Pautz claimed the win, scattering six hits over seven innings of work, winning her 26
th game of the season.
Overall, Winona State scored six runs on nine hits and was flawless in the field. With the win, WSU advanced to the NSIC Championship round against Augustana University.
