TOPEKA, Kan. - The Winona State University softball team recently wrapped up a successful trip to Topeka, Kan., where the Warriors went 4-1 at the Washburn University Invitational. WSU entered the tournament on a five-game win streak and concluded the Warrior weekend with an impressive collection of results.
Game 1: Winona State 6, Rockhurst 0. WSU opened up play on Friday, Feb. 23 in fine fashion, earning a shutout win over Rockhurst University. Playing in Lake Shawnee, Kan., Winona State starter
Izzy Howe threw a complete game shutout, striking out eight and walking just three. Howe held the Hawks to just four hits and WSU was flawless defensively in the field, while RU committed two errors. The Warriors racked up nine hits, including a 3-for-3 day at the plate for
Abbie Hlas, who collected three singles and two RBI.
Kiley Slaats was 3-for-4 with a triple and a stolen base.
Game 2: Washburn 9, Winona State 1. Winona State ran into a buzzsaw in game two, taking on the host Ichabods on Friday afternoon, losing 9-1. Washburn held WSU to just a single run in the fifth inning and
Sam Keller accounted for the only Winona State extra-base hit, a double that drove in
Abbie Hlas.
Abby Smith and
Jayda Berg shared the circle in the game, with Smith getting the start.
Savannah Serdynski stole a base in the contest, while
Macy Brodin and
Sam Keller had two base hits apiece.
Game 3: Winona State 10, Newman University 2. The Warriors rebounded on Saturday to defeat Newman University 10-2.
Izzy Howe got the start and was credited with the win;
Jayda Berg,
Haley Zembo and
Morgan Smetana all saw time in the Warrior circle. Combined, the Warrior pitching staff held NU to just four hits, while the Winona State offense racked up 13 hits, including a
Carly Engelhardt home run and
Kiley Slaats triple. The WSU defense turned a pair of double plays in the contest, shutting down any possible takeoff of Jet rallies.
Game 4: Winona State 13, Northwest Missouri State 5. Winona State recorded a 2-0 Saturday slate with a monster offensive performance against the Bearcats, winning 13-5.
Carly Engelhardt,
Sam Keller and
Tiegan Mancuso all homered for Winona State in the contest as WSU raced out to a 9-0 lead through the top of the third inning. Northwest Missouri State would claw back two runs in the bottom of the third frame and three more in the fifth, but
Abby Smith and
Skyler Calmes combined to hold the Bearcats at bay. The Warrior pitching duo limited NMSU to just three earned runs and struck out five.
Game 5: Winona State 2, Fort Hayes State 0. Fans on hand on Sunday were treated to a pitcher's duel between WSU's
Izzy Howe and FHSU's Savanah Egger, with both pitchers tossing a 4-hit gem in the game. WSU took advantage of an
Abbie Hlas home run and
Kiley Slaats triple in the first and third innings, respectively, to rack up just enough offense for the win. Hlas' homer came on the second pitch she saw in the game and Slaats triple scored
Tiegan Mancuso who had reached on a clever bunt single in the third. Howe had five strikeouts in the game, while walking just two Tigers.
Winona State (9-2, 0-0 NSIC) is next in action when they travel to Florida for the 2024 WSU Spring Break trip. There, the Warriors will play 10 games in five days. WSU will open play against the University of Charleston on Friday, March 1 at 11:30 a.m. EST.
