AUBURNDALE, Fla. - The Winona State University baseball team wrapped up their 2023 spring break trip with a trio of games across March 10-11, falling to California (Pa.) University and Saginaw Valley State but beating Lewis University.
WSU fell to California (Pa.) 11-5 and defeated Lewis University 6-3 in a pair of games on Friday, March 10. In their only game on Saturday, the Warriors lost to Saginaw Valley State 7-2.
California (Pa.) University 11, Winona State 5
In game one on Friday, March 10 against California (Pa.),
Kyle Yu led Winona State offensively in going 2-for-4 from the leadoff spot.
Steele Beatty collected a double to register the only Warrior extra-base hit in the contest. Yu and
Nathan Osborne each stole a base while
Sean Menzel drew a pair of walks.
Unfortunately for Winona State, the Vulcans used a five-run first inning to pull away early, eventually chasing starter
Peyton Lee from the contest.
Jaden Schwantz came on in relief, holding Cal (Pa.) to just one hit before
Davis Zeutzius closed out the final two innings for Winona State.
The Vulcans scored 11 runs on 14 hits and committed two miscues. Winona State tallied five runs on nine hits while committing three errors. The contest was the first-ever meeting between the schools.
Winona State 6, Lewis University 3
Game two on Friday saw
Derek Baumgartner deliver a 3-for-5 day at the plate and
Kyle Gendron and
Nevin Wall toss a key final three innings, with Gendron earning the win and Wall the save against the Flyers.
Winona State broke a scoreless deadlock with the game's first run in the top of the third inning, with
Mason Trocke's sacrifice fly scoring
Austin Beyer. Beyer scored again on a Flyer error, part of a two-run fifth frame that also saw
Cooper Kapanke drive in Baugartner with a long fly ball to center.
Lewis would go on to tie the game at 3-3 with one run in the bottom of the fifth and two more in the sixth inning. Winona State responded minutes later when
Kyle Yu drove in
Sean Menzel with a single; Yu then scored on a wild pitch to put WSU back on top 5-3.
Baumgartner completed the Warrior offensive output in the top of the ninth with a double that scored Beyer and pushing the scoreboard to 6-3.
Justin Firpo got the start and went 5 2/3 innings, striking out four while walking two. After a brief appearance by
John Breske,
Kyle Gendron took over and earned the win, holding the Flyers to one hit while striking out two.
Nevin Wall claimed the save with two innings of scoreless work, allowing just two hits.
Saginaw Valley State 7, Winona State 2
Saginaw Valley State scored the first three runs of the game and then used a three-run bottom of the fourth to hold Winona State at bay, beating the Warriors 7-2 on Saturday, March 11.
Mason Trocke collected a double for WSU in a two-hit performance for WSU;
Derek Baumgartner also went 2-for-4 and drew a walk in the leadoff spot for Winona State.
On the mound,
Bailey Banaszynski had the start and went 4 2/3 innings before giving way to
Nathan Platter.
Boyd Skelley went the final two frames, allowing just one Cardinal hit.
WSU managed nine hits, scoring twice and committed four errors. SVSU scored seven runs on ten hits and committed a pair of miscues.
Following play in Florida, Winona State moves to 4-10 overall on the season. The Warriors are next in action on Tuesday, March 14 when the travel to Mount Mercy University. First pitch in Cedar Rapids is scheduled for 1 p.m. between the Warriors and the Mustangs.
