WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University softball team hosted NSIC rival Minnesota State on Tuesday, April 25, in a mid-week doubleheader at Alumni Field. When the dust settled, the Mavericks had dealt the Warriors a pair of losses, with a 6-5 scoreline in 8-innings in game one and a 4-2 setback in the nightcap.
Minnesota State 6, Winona State 5 (8-innings)
Winona State saw the Mavericks jump out to a 5-1 lead after just one inning of play, but WSU battled back in the third and fourth frames to close the gap to 5-4 MSU heading into the seventh.
In the bottom of the seventh,
Carly Engelhardt led off with a game-tying home run, driving a ball down the left field line for her 11th homer of the season. For the Warriors, Engelhardt's long ball was one of two round-trippers in the game, with
Marissa Mullen hitting a solo home run in the first frame. Savannah Sedynski added a triple and RBI to the Warrior effort.
After forcing extra innings, Minnesota State responded with their second home run of the contest, as the Maverick's Gianna Lara hit an opposite-field shot just over the fence in right field. Winona State went down in a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the eighth, falling to Minnesota State 6-5.
Abby Smith went the distance in the Warrior circle, notching one strikeout.
Marissa Mullen led the WSU offense with a 3-for-4 performance, while
Macy Brodin,
Carly Engelhardt and
Abbie Hlas all collected two hits apiece. Winona State catcher
Logan Anderson threw out a would-be Maverick base stealer in the third inning and WSU was flawless in the field defensively.
As a team, Winona State scored five runs on 11 hits while the Mavericks plated six runs on seven hits; neither team committed an error in the contest. MSU's McKayla Armbruster went the distance, striking out seven Warriors while walking two.
Minnesota State 4, Winona State 2
Winona State held a narrow 2-1 lead over the visiting Mavericks after four innings but Minnesota State pulled away with a three-run fifth frame to take the nightcap, 4-2.
An
Abbie Hlas double in the third inning scored
Savannah Serdynski to knot the teams at 1-1 and
Macy Brodin hit an RBI single in the fourth frame to push Winona State to a 2-1 lead.
The fifth inning saw Minnesota State plate three runs on a series of singles, one double, and a Maverick hit by a pitch. WSU was unable to respond in either the sixth or seventh innings, going down in defeat 4-2.
Skyler Calmes got the start and took the loss for Winona State, throwing five innings, striking out two, and conceding four runs, all earned.
Morgan Smetana came on in relief in the sixth, holding the Mavericks to one hit over that time. MSU's Kacy Nickerson went the distance in the win, striking out three Warriors.
Overall, Minnesota State scored four runs on eight hits and committed two errors, while Winona State scored twice on eight hits and did not commit a miscue.
Following Tuesday's doubleheader, Winona State moves to 33-14 on the year, 16-6 in NSIC play. WSU will host Minnesota State Moorhead on Saturday, April 29. First pitch between the Warriors and Dragons is set for 1pm.
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.
