SIOUX FALLS - The Winona State University baseball team battled the elements and the Northern State Wolves in doubleheader action on Saturday, March 16, and eventually suffered a pair of setbacks at a windswept Sanford Sports Complex in Sioux Falls, S.D.
WSU and NSU squared off on a cold day that featured gusty conditions that wreaked havoc on balls to the outfield and subsequently the Warriors endured an error-plagued afternoon against Northern State.
Game 1: Northern State 9, Winona State 5 | Winona State pushed out to a 2-1 lead in the early stages of the first contest, thanks in part to runs driven in by
Jess Ondell in the first inning and
Ben Hefel in the second stanza. Northern State answered back in the fourth and fifth frames, taking a 3-2 lead. WSU would recapture a two-run advantage at 5-3 following a
Joshua Hawksford double that plated Ondell and
Alex Berreth. Unfortunately for WSU, Northern State would leverage a pair of miscues in the seventh to post a six-run inning. The Warriors were unable to answer in the bottom of the same frame, eventually losing 9-5.
Pierce Gritzmaker made the start on the mound for WSU, striking out five and not allowing a walk in five innings of work. A series of WSU relievers saw the Wolves rally late, with
Drew Lingen taking the loss in the contest.
Game 2: Northern State 12, Winona State 5 | WSU saw NSU start quickly in the nightcap, with a handful of Warrior errors in the infield contributing to 4-0 deficit across the opening two innings.
Ryland Wall and
Joshua Hawksford helped WSU climb back into the game with back-to-back singles which scored Warrior teammates
Jack Funke and
Alex Berreth. Northern State would move back in front with a pair of big innings, doubling their lead and moving to a 12-2 scoreline after six innings.
Jack Funke and
Austin Beyer attempted to spark a Warrior comeback in the late stages with RBI base hits but WSU was unable to overcome the Wolves large lead, falling 12-5.
On the mound,
Cameron Kramer allowed just one earned run in his Warrior start but was saddled with the loss. A trio of Warrior relievers handled the middle innings for Winona State before giving way to
Owen Schmidt who held NSU scoreless in the final three frames. Schmidt struck out four NSU batters and conceded just one base hit.
Winona State (5-13, 2-6 NSIC) is set to host Bemidji State in a three-day, four-game NSIC series over March 22-25. The Warriors and Beavers are schedule for first pitch on Friday, March 22 at 1:30 p.m. in the cozy confines of Loughrey Field.
