WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University baseball team put together a late-inning rally in their Monday, March 27 contest against Northern State but came up just short, falling to the Wolves 14-13.
In a site-reversed game which saw Winona State bat first as the visiting team, it was Northern State who put up big run totals early on, scoring 10 runs in the first four frames of the contest The Wolves notched three runs in the bottom of the first, third, fourth and sixth innings and added a single tally in the second as well, with a series of NSU home runs accounting for most of the damage and chasing WSU starter
Pierce Gritzmaker from the hill.
However, WSU chipped away at the lead and battled back to within four runs at 14-10 to start the top of the eighth inning. After holding NSU scoreless in the bottom of the eighth, the Warriors rallied further in the top of the ninth.
Ryland Wall started the ninth inning off after being hit by a pitch and then found his way to third after a pair of wild pitches. With one out,
Dane Weiland also was hit by a pitch, putting two runners aboard. WSU then loaded the bases when
Nick Herbst was walked and a
Kyle Yu double to right center scored Wall and
Josh Gullickson, on as a pinch runner for Herbst, closing the gap to 14-12. Another passed ball eventually scored Herbst to close the gap to just a single run, but Winona State was unable to tally one more, falling 14-13 to the Wolves.
Despite the setback, WSU claimed the series against Northern State, thanks to a pair of wins the day before, beating NSU 2-1 in a pitcher's duel and outlasting the Wolves 10-6 in game two.
Following the NSU three-game home stand, Winona State moves to 9-14 overall and 5-3 in NSIC play.
Next up for Winona State are the Beavers of Minot State; the two teams will face off in an a NSIC doubleheader on Tuesday, March 28 in Winona. Also, a site-reversed series originally set to be held in Minot, N.D., the Warriors will be considered the visiting team and bat first in the contest. The first pitch in the cozy confines of Loughrey Field is set for 1:30 p.m.
For the most up-to-date news in Warrior Athletics, please visit www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com and @WinonaStateATH.
About Winona State University Athletics:
The Winona State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, as an integral part of the educational mission of the institution, is committed to offering opportunities to experience academic and athletic excellence for our student-athletes through two simple words: Graduate Champions.
Fourteen Warrior programs compete at the NCAA Division II level within the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Winona State University competes as an affiliate member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in the sport of women's gymnastics.
Media Contact: Pete Watkins, Director of Athletic Communications | Email: pwatkins@winona.edu
