JOPLIN, Missouri- The Winona State University softball team fell to Missouri Southern State University on their second day of competition at Pat Lipira Softball Complex on Saturday, March 16. WSU lost game one seven and took MSSU to eight innings in game two
In game one, both Winona State and Missouri Southern State kept the game at a pitchers' battle going into the third. WSU put the first run on the board in the top of the third inning and MSSU answering back with two runs in the bottom of the third. The Warriors responded in the fifth with the tying run. Unfortunately, the Lions scored in the bottom of the seventh to win game one, 3-2.
In game two, both WSU and MSSU had a pitching duel in the circle, going through seven innings with out allowing a run to cross home plate for either team. The Lions broke the scoreless game in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Missouri Southern State 3, Winona State 2
A pitching duel between WSU's
Izzy Howe and MSSU's Kiki Pickens took three innings before either of the teams were able to cross the plate. The Warriors were the first to do so in the top of the third.
In the third inning, WSU's
Abbie Hlas earned a walk, which was followed by singles from
Sam Keller and
Kiley Slaats to load the bases.
Carly Engelhardt stepped up to the plate and was drew a walk, allowing Hlas to score and notching the first run of the game. MSSU got on the board after a Warrior error and a decision made by the WSU defense to plate their first run in the bottom of the third. A pair of sacrifice flies saw the Lions score their second run taking the 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third.
Both teams would go scoreless through the top of the fifth and after a pitching change for the Lions, reached Hlas hit a single up the middle and had
Tiegan Mancuso sub in as a pinch runner. Keller advanced Mancuso on a ground out to MSSU's second basemen. Slaats then singled up the middle to advance Mancuso to third, then on the throw from the Lions, Mancuso scored and Slaats moved over to second. In the bottom of the fifth for the Warriors, Howe and the Winona State defense were able to keep Missouri Southern off the bases.
The Warriors were unable to get any runs across in the seventh. MSSU was able to get a run across off of a single by Kylee Jacks and then a double by Taylor Nukolls to end game one, 3-2.
Missouri Southern State 1, Winona State 0
Game two started with yet another pitchers' duel between Winona State's
Abby Smith and Missouri Southern's Kara Amos going all seven innings taking the ball game into extra innings.
Both WSU's defense as well as MSSU's defense kept both at six hits a piece through eight innings. The Warriors strung along six hits from six separate players. Unfortunately Winona State was unable have any of those six hits score in eight innings.
International tie-breaking rules took effect going into the either where Missouri Southern was able to get one of their six hits to collect a run in the bottom of the eighth inning. The Lions were able to score on a pair of singles produced by Kylee Jacks and Taylor Nukolls to score Adrianna Young to end the game.
With the doubleheader loss against Missouri Southern State, Winona State moves to 16-8 on the year. The Warriors will play on Sunday, March 17 back in Pittsburg, Kan. facing off against No. 11, University of Central Oklahoma. The Bronchos and Warriors will start at 9:30 a.m. at Pittsburg Softball Complex. The Warriors will have their home opener March 23 where Winona State will face St. Cloud State in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
