ROCHESTER, Minn. - The Winona State University softball team claimed a key sweep in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) action on Monday, beating the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in a pair of contests in Rochester, Minnesota.
Playing in the RCTC Dome, Winona State defeated Minnesota Duluth in game one 7-2 behind an
Izzy Howe complete-game effort and battled back in the nightcap to earn a 3-2 win over UMD.
Game 1: Winona State 7, Minnesota Duluth 2 | UMD opened the scoring with an unearned run in the first inning, but WSU responded with a game-tying single by
Ashlee Chantos, scoring
Logan Anderson in the bottom of the second. The Warriors would break the contest open in the following frame, beginning with an RBI triple from
Kiley Slaats that scored
Sam Keller.
Abbie Hlas and
Ashlee Chantos would keep the Warrior rally running, plating
Slaats and
Carly Engelhardt moments later. Although UMD's Julia Gronholz would hit a solo home run in the top of the fifth, WSU would add some insurance runs in the bottom of the same frame when Engelhardt drove in
Abbie Hlas and Chantos added to her RBI total scoring pinch-runner
Dana Jones on a single to left.
Starter
Izzy Howe went the distance in the Warrior circle, competing in impressive fashion against a UMD squad picked to the win the NSIC in the 2024 coaches' poll. Howe matched up masterfully with the Bulldogs' Lauren Dixon who was tabbed as the NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year. On Monday in Rochester, Howe handled the challenge by striking out 12 UMD hitters and scattering five hits over seven innings of work. Howe was particularly efficient against the top of the Bulldog lineup card, accumulating seven Ks across the first three UMD batters.
Game 2: Winona State 3, Minnesota Duluth 2 | Winona State leadoff hitter
Sam Keller spotted WSU a 1-0 lead with a solo home run in the top of the third, driving a Bulldog offering over the fence to straight-away center field. UMD answered back with a 2-run homer in the top of the fourth to take a 2-1 lead. After a scoreless fifth frame, Winona State's Teahgen Amwoza and
Ashlee Chantos delivered RBI singles in back-to-back at-bats to put WSU back in front 3-2.
In the Warrior pitching circle,
Jayda Berg entered the contest in the fifth inning and delivered a clutch performance for her team. Berg struck out five of the 11 Bulldog batters she faced and did not allow a walk over the final three innings. Berg combined with WSU starting pitcher
Abby Smith to hold UMD to eight hits for the victory. Berg's victory effort was buoyed by a stellar defensive play to end the contest, as WSU shortstop
Abbie Hlas latched onto a hard-hit ball up the middle and - after deflecting off of Berg - made the quick-strike throw to first to end the game as two UMD runners advanced to scoring position.
Winona State (19-11, 3-1 NSIC) is scheduled to travel to Northern State University and MSU Moorhead in an
NSIC weekend on the road over Friday, March 29, and Saturday, March 30. Fans, families, and followers of WSU softball are encouraged to like and follow
Winona State social media feeds for information on potential schedule and site changes.
