PITTSBURG, Kan. - The Winona State University softball team is set to travel to Pittsburg, Kansas for a three-day competition weekend facing off against a pair of ranked opponents and six contests in total.  WSU will play doubleheaders across the three-day weekend in the final non-conference tune-up before Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play opens later this month. 

In Kansas, Winona State (16-4, 0-0 NSIC) will open play with a doubleheader against co-host No. 13 Pittsburg State on Friday, March 15, followed by a twin bill on March 16 against Missouri Southern State.  The Warriors will close out the weekend with a pair of games against No. 11 University of Central Oklahoma on March 17. The Friday and Saturday double headers will be at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.,  while Sunday's contests feature a 9:30 a.m. /11:30 a.m. format.

Winona State will be facing Pittsburg State for the ninth time since 2013; WSU and PSU split a doubleheader last year in Kansas with the Warriors defeated the Gorilla's 4-1 in game one but falling 0-3 in the nightcap. Winona State and MSSU have played eight times since 2013. The two teams also split in 2023, as Winona State beat the Lions 6-4 in game one and then lost 3-1 to MSSU in mid-March last year. 

WSU went 7-2 on the annual spring break trip last week, putting together a six-game win streak during that time. 

GAME & FAN INFORMATION

Live stream (paywall), live stats, and tournament page are available on the Winona State Softball schedule page. 

The PSU and COU doubleheaders will be played at PSU Softball Complex at Pittsburg State University.

The Missouri Southern doubleheader will be played at Pat Lipira Softball Complex in Joplin, Mo.  

WINONA STATE STORYLINES, entering the weekend...

The Warriors are 16-4 overall, 0-0 NSIC

WSU went 7-2 on their spring trip in Florida. The only two losses were to College of St. Rose (6-4) and University of Missouri - St. Louis (2-1) 

Abbie Hlas leads the Warriors in batting average (.464), doubles (10), and hits (32).

Hlas broke Winona State Softball career doubles record earning her 66th double in the Goldey-Beacom game, previously held by Sarah Carlson with 62. 

Sam Keller leads Winona State in slugging percentage (.732) and home runs (4).

Kiley Slaats lead the team with stolen bases (4-for-6) with Alyssa Woelfel going 3-for-3 on stolen bases so far this season. 

Keller and Carly Engelhardt both have batted in 20 RBI a piece. 

In the circle, Abby Smith and Izzy Howe have identical 6-2 records. 

Jayda Berg has earned a 2.86 ERA on so far this  season while Howe checks in at 3.45. 

Smith leads the Warriors with 47.1 innings in the circle with 22 strikeouts, Howe has collected 44 strikeouts over 44.1 innings.

Smith and Howe both have earned two shutouts a piece going into this weekend. 

In Florida, Greg Jones surpassed the 900-win mark at Winona State last season and is currently inching closer to the 950-win mark, being five wins away. 

Weekend opponent storylines

Pittsburg State is 24-2 overall and has a 4-0 league mark.
- The Gorillas are 8-0 at home on the year. 
- PSU is on a 14-game winning streak. 
- Heather Arnett leads PSU in batting average (.567).
- Ava Laurent is 9-0 in the circle and Gorilla teammate Kiana Pogrosewski is 7-1 overall. 
- Hannah Burnett and Heather Arnett are both 45-of-48 on stolen base attempts. 

Missouri Southern is 20-6 overall and has a 3-1 league mark.
- The Lions are 8-1 at home on the year. 
- MSSU has gone 3-1 over their last four games. 
- Taylor Nuckolls leads MSSU in batting average (.421) and RBIs (27).
- Kiki Pickens is 6-4 in the circle and the only Lion pitcher with over 60 innings pitched (63)
- Yazmin Vargas is 20-of-20 in stolen base attempts for MSSU.

Central Oklahoma is 16-6 overall and has a 4-0 league mark.
- The Bronchos are 10-1 at home so far this season. 
- UCO is on a nine game winning streak. 
- Jacee Minter leads UCO in batting average (.387), home runs (8), and RBIs (29).
- Terin Ritz has gone 8-2 in the circle and Bronchos teammate Jordyn Pipkin has gone 6-3 overall. 
- Rylee Lemos is 12-of-12 for stolen bases so far this season. 


WARRIOR NOTABLES

Winona State standout Abbie Hlas was named the 2024 NSIC Preseason WSU Player to Watch this season. 

Winona State pitcher Abby Smith was named the 2024 NSIC Preseason WSU Pithcher to Watch.  

Head coach Greg Jones has started the 2024 NCAA Division II season with 945-318-4 (.745) record. 

Winona State has made 15 NCAA Division II Tournament appearances as a program, all with Jones at the helm.