ROCHESTER, Minn. - The Winona State University softball team picked up a key first round victory at the 2023 NSIC Softball Tournament today, defeating MSU Moorhead 12-9.
The slugfest began with each team scoring runs in the opening inning, as MSUM plated one in the top half of the first and WSU answered on a
Carly Engelhardt single that brought in
Abbie Hlas.
The Warriors added two more in the second as
Logan Anderson and
Cammi Riemer scored on a Hlas double to grab an early 3-1 lead. The Dragons answered in the third with a solo home run but
Marissa Mullen scored Engelhardt on a double of her own to gain the two-run lead back.
Winona State added four in the fourth, with three runs coming on an Engelhardt three-run shot to left field. MSUM one-upped the Warriors by scoring five in the top of the fifth to bring the game within one run.
WSU plated two more in both the fifth and sixth to provide insurance runs heading into the final frame. The Dragons threatened in the seventh, scoring two runs but Winona State held on for the 12-9 victory.
Five different Warriors recorded a hit and Winona State tallied 16 total hits as a team. Hlas and Engelhardt had impressive games at the plate, each going 5-for-5 and driving in a combined eight runs. Mullen added three hits and two RBI while
Savannah Serdynski recorded a multi-hit game with a pair of hits and three runs scored.
Abby Smith started in the circle and earned the win. Smith pitched 4.2 innings and allowed seven runs on 10 hits while striking out three.
Skyler Calmes came on in relief and earned the save after pitching 2.1 innings and allowing two runs on four hits.
Azalya Lopez recorded the loss for MSUM, allowing three runs on 1.2 innings pitched. MSUM notched 14 hits as a team with Avery Steffen leading the way with three.
Winona State will next square off against Minnesota Duluth for a spot in the semifinals at noon on Thursday, May 4 in Rochester, Minn. at the RYFSA Complex.
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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.
