Box Score ROCHESTER, Minn - The Winona State University softball team saw its run in the 2022 NSIC Softball Tournament end in the championship game on Saturday, as WSU was beaten by Augustana University, 13-0. 

The Warriors had won their first game in convincing fashion on Saturday, dispatching the University of Sioux Falls 6-2 to earn the right to play for the NSIC Tournament Championship against the Vikings. However, while everything went the the way of the Warriors to start the day, the second contest did not. 
 
Augustana opened up early on Winona State, scoring on a home run off of WSU starter Abby Smith with a runner on to stake an early 2-0 lead over the Warriors. After a scoreless WSU top half of the second, the Vikings opened up for eight runs, putting the game out of reach at 10-0. AU added three more in the third to reach the final 13-0 score, tagging Smith (7-4) with loss.  

Abbie Hlas came on to pitch for Winona State in the middle of the second inning, with Brianna Luciano entering the game at the same time taking over at second base while Teaghen Amwoza moved to shortstop for Hlas. As a staff, the WSU pitchers conceded 13 runs on 14 hits in the game, allowing one walk and striking out one batter.

After a Rylee Stout double in the top of the first inning, Winona State did not register another base hit until Amwoza and Ann Smolenski added singles in the fifth frame. In what would be the final Warrior at bats of the game, WSU was able to load the bases after a walk to Sam Keller, moving Amwoza and Smolenski into scoring position, but were unable to capitalize. 

Winona State finished the 2022 NSIC Softball Tournament with a 3-2 record, beating Concordia, St. Paul on Thursday, Minnesota State - Mankato on Friday and the University of Sioux Falls Saturday, while falling twice to the Vikings. Following the tournament, Winona State sits on a 40-15 overall record, 23-5 NSIC regular season mark and were ranked eighth in the most recent NCAA Division II Central Region poll. 

With the loss, Winona State now waits for the NCAA Division II Softball Tournament selections to be announced, currently scheduled for Monday, May 9 at 10 a.m. The NCAA Division II Regionals begin on Thursday, May 12. More information on the NCAA Division II Tournament is available at this link.