WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University softball team split today's doubleheader against Sioux Falls, winning the first game 7-6 and dropping the second 4-3.
The Warriors (20-9, 3-1) mounted a sixth-inning comeback in the first game to pull out the one-run victory, but the comeback in game two fell one run short.
Game One: Winona State 7, Sioux Falls 6
The Warriors put a crooked number up on the scoreboard in the first inning, after leadoff hitter
Abbie Hlas doubled and
Carly Engelhardt homered to left center to give WSU an early 2-0 lead.
Sioux Falls strung together a three-inning stretch of runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings. USF scored a run in the 3rd, three in the 4th, and two more in the 5th to grab a late 6-2 lead.
In the 6th,
Libby Neveau led off with a solo shot over the left field fence to start the Warrior comeback. Later in the inning, a
Zoe May single brought
Teaghen Amwoza across the plate.
Savannah Serdynski and Hlas then recorded back-to-back singles to bring two more runs in and tie the game. Serdynksi went on to be the game-winning run, scoring on a USF wild pitch.
Abby Smith came on and pitched two scoreless innings to record the save and secure the win for the Warriors.
Hlas started in the circle for WSU, going 4.2 innings and allowing six runs on 10 hits.
Skyler Calmes picked up the win, recording the final out of the 5th inning.
Hlas led WSU at the plate, going 4-4, driving in a run and scoring a run as well. Engelhardt led the Warriors with 2 RBIs.
Hanna Cress started in the circle for USF, pitching 5.1 innings and allowing five runs. Kait Van Der Zwaag recorded the loss, giving up the final two runs of the game. Kylie Madrid led USF at the plate, going 3-4 and driving in three runs.
Game Two: Winona State 3, Sioux Falls 4
The second game featured strong pitching until the Cougars struck first, scoring three runs in the fourth inning.Â
Winona State answered in the 5th, scoring two runs on a
Marissa Mullen single and a
Macy Brodin sacrifice fly. USF scored another in the 5th to stretch the lead to 4-2 heading into the final two innings.
An Engelhardt homer over the left field foul pole gave the Warriors life in the 7th, but USF ended WSU's comeback efforts and dealt Winona State a 4-3 loss.
Abby Smith pitched all six innings, allowing four runs on nine hits. Engelhardt and Serdynksi each notched two hits to lead the WSU offense.
Van Der Zwaag earned the win for Sioux Falls and also went 2-3 at the plate. Megan Lawson notched two hits as well for the Cougars.
Winona State will be back in action tomorrow, April 3, as they host Southwest Minnesota State University in a site-reversed doubleheader. First pitch is schedule for 1pm.
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