ROCHESTER, Minn.- The Winona State University softball team started the 2024 Warrior campaign with a doubleheader split against Grand View University, falling to the Vikings 10-2 in game one but notching a 10-0 shutout win in the nightcap. The pair of season-opening contests were played in the RCTC Dome in Rochester, Minn. on Wednesday, February 14.
Game 1: Grand View 10, Winona State 2
The visiting Vikings used a five-run second inning to open up a lead over Winona State and then pulled away with three more scores in the fifth inning. Winona State avoided the shutout with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth frame, but a potential big-inning rally in the middle innings of the contest did not materialize.
GVU starter Jessica Walljasper held Winona State to just one extra-base hit, a double by pinch-hitter
Zoe May.
Kiley Slaats led WSU at the plate, going 2-for-3 in the game. WSU was held to six hits against the Vikings.
In the Warrior circle,
Izzy Howe went four and 2/3 innings, conceding seven hits and eight runs, all earned. Howe walked six and struck out five in her first Winona State action and gave way to
Jayda Berg with two outs in the fifth.
Haley Zembo and
Skyler Calmes both had appearance after Berg, with the trio of pitchers combining to hold Grand View to two runs in the final two innings.
Game 2: Winona State 10, Grand View 0
Winona State rebounded in Game 2 to earn a shutout win over Grand View, using a strong pitching performance from
Abby Smith, who scattered five hits over five innings in the contest. Smith struck out four Vikings, did not allow a walk and led WSU to the first Warrior win of the 2024 season.
The Winona State offense came alive in the nightcap, with
Greg Jones' squad racking up 16 hits in the five-inning affair. WSU scored three runs to open the first inning and added four more in the second stanza to jump out to a 7-0 lead early on. The Warriors tacked on two more scores in the third inning and a solo run in the fourth frame.
In the batter's box,
Abbie Hlas helped lead Winona State with a 2-for-4 performance while also scoring a pair of runs.
Sam Keller put together a 3-for-3 effort against the Vikings in game two, driving in two runs and scoring twice as well.
Carly Engelhardt was the top RBI producer, driving in three runs. Joining Hlas, Keller and Engelhardt in hitting doubles were
Teaghen Amwoza and
Kiley Slaats, who both collected doubles in the game.
On the base paths, Slaats was joined by
Corinna Loshek and
Alyssa Woelfel in stealing a base in the contest. Overall, the WSU offense chased Grand View starter Lani Gannon from the circle after three innings and eight runs. The Vikings turned to Madi Huisman for the final inning, whom the Warriors tagged for two more scores.
Up Next:
WSU heads to Sioux Center, Iowa for a two day dome tournament against Truman State University and Upper Iowa University on Feb. 18 and 19.
