WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University baseball team entered their NSIC series finale with St. Cloud State on Monday, April 3 looking to build on their 8-7 win over the Huskies less than 24 hours earlier.
Monday's matchup also provided Winona State with the opportunity to claim back-to-back wins over SCSU in the same season for the first time since 2011 when WSU won three in a row over the Huskies. However, St. Cloud State had other plans, dealing the Warriors a hard-fought 8-5 setback.
Both teams enjoyed early offensive success, with SCSU scoring twice in the first inning, only to see Winona State tie the game at 2-2 by the time the game was just two stanzas old. The Huskies would score three runs in the top of the third frame, and add three more across the next two innings to own an 8-2 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth.
Down six runs with four innings to play, Winona State mounted a comeback through
Cooper Kapanke, as the WSU first baseman launched a home run to right field with
Mason Trocke aboard. Kapanke's team-leading fourth home run added two runs to the Warrior scoreboard and pulled WSU to within four scores at 8-4.
In the seventh, Winona State's
Joshua Hawksford drove in run with a ground ball deep in the hole at short, scoring
Derek Baumgartner who had doubled to left center earlier in the inning. While Winona State was able to keep St. Cloud State off the scoreboard following the fifth inning, Hawksford's RBI was the last scoring effort from Winona State, falling 8-5.
Derek Baumgartner led Winona State in the game - and the series - going 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.
Kyle Yu also contributed a multi-hit game to the Warrior effort, going 2-for-5, as did
Mason Trocke, also 2-for-5 on the day.
Baumgartner finishes the three-game series against the Huskies going 9-of-13 overall, with four doubles and three RBI.
On the mound,
Pierce Gritzmaker got the Warrior start and went four full innings, allowing six runs, five of which were earned. Gritzmaker struck out three Huskies before yielding to
Nathan Platter, who threw the fifth and sixth innings. Chandler Smith took over in the seventh and went the rest of the way, striking out three while walking just one.
SCSU's Sam Riola claimed the win, going six innings with six strikeouts before being replaced by Ethan Lanthier, who earned the save.
Following the 1-2 mark against St. Cloud State in the series, Winona State moves to 11-17 overall and 7-6 in NSIC play. The Warriors will be in action on Wednesday, April 5, hosting Bemidji State in a site-reversed doubleheader originally set to be hosted in Bemidji. The Beavers and Warriors will see first pitch at noon on Wednesday in the cozy confines of Loughrey Field.
