ROLLA, Mo. - The Winona State University baseball team was dealt a pair of setbacks by Missouri S&T on Tuesday, February 20, falling 9-0 in seven innings to the Miners and dropping the 9-inning nightcap 12-5 to complete the four-games series.
Winona State (0-4, 0-0 NSIC) was held in check in the first game by the Miners pitching staff, mustering just five hits in the 9-0 loss. In game two, WSU was able to plate five runs on seven hits but Missouri S&T used a steady parade of runs to claim the 12-5 win.
Game 1: Miners 9, Winona State 0
Missouri S&T opened up their scoring account early, plating two runs in the bottom of the first, followed by three more in the back half of the second stanza.
WSU was able to get runners aboard in both innings, with
Alex Berreth hitting a double in the first frame and
Connor Weed collecting a single in the second. However, both Warriors were stranded on the bases in the contest.
Austin Beyer doubled in the top of the fourth, but WSU was subject to 1-2-3 innings in the third and fifth frames, stifling any comeback opportunity. The sixth inning offered Winona State the best chance to dent the scoreboard with back-to-back singles from
Jess Ondell and
Ben Hefel, but the Miners pitching staff closed the door on the potential Warrior rally.
The WSU pitching brigade of
Andrew Regner,
Owen Schmidt,
Mason Beltrand and
Pierce Gritzmaker combined to strike out four Miner batters while walking six. The Missouri S&T staff held Winona State to five total hits, allowed two Warrior walks, and struck out five WSU hitters.
Game 2: Miners 12, Winona State 5
Ryland Wall drove in
Cole Fuecker to give Winona State a 1-0 lead to open game two, but the host Miners responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the same frame to claim an early 2-1 lead.
The two teams traded scores in the third inning, but the Miners pulled away with seven runs across the middle three frames to eventually claim the series sweep over WSU.
Joshua Hawksford and
Cole Fuecker both collected doubles on the day, and Fuecker added a home run in the fifth, but the WSU effort was offset by a pair of Missouri S&T homers and two Miner triples in the contest.
On the hill,
Logan LeTourneau got the start for Winona State before yielding to
Nevin Wall. After an appearance by freshman
Sawyer Hoffman,
Cole Stanchina and
Theo Giedd handled the late innings for the Warriors. Combined, the WSU pitchers allowed 12 runs, ten of which were earned, while striking out two and walking six.
Next Up: After returning home from Missouri, Winona State will be off for the remainder of February. WSU will travel to Florida for the annual spring trip, with contests commencing on Saturday, March 2, as WSU is set to take on Seton Hill University in Davenport, Fla. at 3:15pm EST.
