ROCHESTER, Minn. - The Winona State University softball team employed a quick-strike offense in game one and received an impressive effort from pitcher
Abby Smith in game two but had to settle for a split with St. Cloud State University in an NSIC doubleheader on Friday, March 22.
Playing in the RCTC Dome in Rochester, Minn., the Warriors moved to 17-11 on the season and 1-1 in NSIC action following the two-game tilt against SCSU.
Game 1: WSU 10, St. Cloud State 2
A four-run first inning put Winona State on track to dispatch St. Cloud State quickly in game one, with
Carly Engelhardt and
Teaghen Amwoza driving in
Sam Keller and
Kiley Slaats for the first two Warrior runs.
Alyssa Woelfel and
Ashlee Chantos helped the WSU cause moments later with two more RBI, scoring
Abbie Hlas and Amwoza.
Owning a 4-0 scoreline heading into the second inning, WSU would turn to Engelhardt and Amwoza again, with both Warriors collecting run-scoring singles which pushed the scoreboard to 6-0 WSU. Winona State would go on to add a single run in the bottom of the fourth and then used a three-run fifth inning to end the game early.
Warrior starter
Izzy Howe would go the first four innings to pick up the win, scattering five hits and striking out eight Huskies. Howe struck out the side in the top of the first and second frames, providing WSU a strong start to the contest in the circle.
Jayda Berg closed the contest with one inning of work, striking out two of the three batters she faced. Howe moved to 7-3 on the year and yielded just two runs when SCSU plated a pair of runs in the fifth.
Game 1 WSU Stat Standouts
Kiley Slaats, 3-for-4, 1 double, 3 runs scored
Carly Engelhardt, 2-for-2, 4 RBI, 1 walk, 1 Sac Fly
Sam Keller, 2-for-4, 1 run scored, 1 RBI
Teaghen Amwoza, 2-for-3, 2 RBI, 1 run scored
Izzy Howe, 4 IP, 8 K's, 2 Walk
Jayda Berg, 1 IP, 2 K's
Game 2: St. Cloud State 1, Winona State 0
WSU starter
Abby Smith threw a two-hit gem in game two but St. Cloud State was able to tame the Warrior bats for the majority of the contest and used a single run scored in the top of the third inning to escape the RCTC Dome with a split.
Smith would concede just a single and double in seven innings of work, but SCSU would score the game's lone runs following a passed ball and RBI double. Smith would strike out two SCSU batters among her 27 batters faced.
SCSU's Justyce Porter held Winona State to just six hits, all singles, and allowed a pair of Warrior walks. A 6-4-3 double play diffused a potential WSU rally in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Game 2 WSU Stat Standouts
Abby Smith, 7.0 IP, 2 hits, 2 Ks.
Sam Keller, 1-for-2, 1 walk
.
Up Next: Winona State will continue play at the RCTC Dome on Monday, March 25, taking on the University of Minnesota Duluth in an NSIC doubleheader, beginning at 11 a.m.
