ABERDEEN, S.D. - The Winona State University softball team will travel to Aberdeen, South Dakota for a NSIC weekend, facing off against Northern State University and Minnesota State Moorhead. WSU will face NSU at 1 p.m. on Friday and will square of against MSUM on Saturday at noon. 

Due to weather and field conditions, Winona State (16-4, 0-0 NSIC) will take on both the Wolves and the Dragons in the City of Aberdeen Dome.  WSU is coming off an impressive sweep of the University of Minnesota Duluth this past Monday, a doubleheader in which the Warrior pitching staff dominated the Bulldog bats. Izzy Howe, Abby Smith and Jayda Berg all threw effectively against UMD en route to pushing the Winona State NSIC mark to 3-1 on the year. 

In Aberdeen, WSU will see a a NSU squad that is 0-4 in league play and 14-10 overall. The MSUM Dragons are 16-10 on the year and 3-1 in NSIC action.

GAME & FAN INFORMATION

Live stream and live stats are available on the Winona State Softball schedule page. 

Both Warrior doubleheaders will be played at the City of Aberdeen Dome in Aberdeen, S.D. 
 

WINONA STATE STORYLINES, entering the weekend... 

The Warriors are 19-11 overall, 3-1 NSIC 
 
WSU is coming off a 3-1 weekend, splitting with St. Cloud State and earning a doubleheader sweep against Minnesota Duluth. 

Abbie Hlas leads the Warriors in doubles (12), is first in walks (16) and is second in at-bats (101). 
 
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 (.696) and home runs (5). 
 
Kiley Slaats lead the team with stolen bases (7-for-9) with Alyssa Woelfel going 3-for-3 on stolen bases so far this season.  
 
Carly Engelhardt has batted in 27 RBI's so far this season.  

In the circle,  Izzy Howe holds an 8-3 record on the year with Warrior teammate Abby Smith holding a 6-4 record on the year.  
 
Jayda Berg has earned a 3.62 ERA on so far this season while Howe checks in leading the team at 2.58.  
 
Smith leads the Warriors with 71.1 innings in the circle with 32 strikeouts, Howe has collected 72 strikeouts over 69.2 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 two wins away.  

Weekend opponent storylines

Northern State is 14-10 overall and has a 0-4 league mark.
- The Wolves have not yet played at home and are 13-6 in neutral site games.
- NSU is on a 4-game losing streak. 
- Lexi Chase leads NSU in batting average (.429), OPS (1.063) and triples (3).
- Abby Rux is 3-4 in the circle and Lexi Chase is 3-3 overall. NSU has a 4-pitcher rotation. 
- Claire Zbylut (9-for-9) and Ashley Fauske (4-for-4) are both perfect on stolen base attempts. 

Minnesota State -  Moorhead is 16-10 overall and has a 3-1 league mark.
- The Dragon are 8-6 in neutral site games on the year. 
- MSUM has gone 6-1 over their last seven contests
- Evey Evans leads MSUM in batting average (.388) and at-bats (80).
- Azalya Lopez is 8-4 in the circle and has a pair of complete games.
- As a team, MSUU is 19-of-23 in stolen base attempts on the year.

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.