TOPEKA, Kan. - The Winona State University softball team is set to take part in the 2024 Washburn University Tournament, playing in five total games between Friday, February 23, and Sunday, February 25.
On Friday, WSU will take on Rockhurst University at noon and the host institution Washburn University at 4 p.m. The Warriors will continue play on Saturday, facing off against Newman University at 10 a.m. and Northwest Missouri State University at 2 p.m. Winona State will conclude play in Topeka on Sunday, February 25, in their final contest against Fort Hays State University at 10 a.m.
Coming off a strong opening week, senior Sam Keller was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) softball Player of the Week. Batting second in the Warrior lineup, Keller collected 11 hits in 20 at-bats, driving in 10 RBI across six games. Keller delivered a pair of home runs, three doubles and earned four walks, as Winona State put aside a season-opening setback against Grand View University to win five straight games.
Heading into this weekend's contests, senior shortstop Abbie Hlas sits on verge of setting the all-time Winona State doubles mark. Hlas has hit 61 doubles in her time at WSU and is poised to overtake the top spot in the Warrior record book, currently 62 career doubles held by Sarah Carlson, a member of the WSU program between 2003 and 2006.
Winona State most recently faced off against Upper Iowa, winning both games of the doubleheader on Monday, Feb. 19. The WSU 5-1 mark in 2024 matches the 2023 Warrior start, with head coach Greg Jones' squad also opening 5-1 en route to a 38-16 season record.
