MINOT, N.D. - The Winona State University softball team earned a hard-fought victory at Minot State on Sunday but fell in the back half of an NSIC doubleheader against the Beavers to settle for a split on the road.
Winona State took game one 9-6 over Minot State as
Izzy Howe and
Jayda Berg combined to strikeout nine Beaver batters and WSU scored fours in the top of the seventh inning to pull away. However, MSU defeated WSU 5-2 in game two.
Game 1: Winona State 9, Minot State 6 | WSU held a 3-0 lead midway through the fourth inning but the host Beavers scored four runs in the bottom of the frame to take a one-run lead. After a scoreless fifth, Winona State would pull away with six runs over the final two stanzas.
Abbie Hlas was 3-for-5 at the plate and scored two runs. Hlas had a triple among her three hits, as did Warrior teammate
Savannah Serdynski.
Teaghen Amwoza and
Logan Anderson added doubles to the WSU offensive effort
Tiegan Mancuso was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a walk.
In the circle,
Izzy Howe went four full innings, allowing four runs, three of which were earned. Howe racked up seven strikeouts before yielding to
Jayda Berg. Berg thre the final three frames, striking out two and earning the win.
Game 2: Minot State 5, Winona State 2 | Minot State use a three-run second inning to stake an early lead and held off a Winona State seventh-inning rally to deny WSU the Sunday sweep. Down 5-0 heading into their final at-bats, Winona State saw a spark by Teaghen Mancuso who drove in a RBI.
Sam Keller followed moments later with single to left that scored
Savannah Serdynski but WSU was unable to add any further scores to the Warrior scoreline.
Abby Smith went four innings and was saddled with the loss.
Morgan Smetana threw the final two frames for WSU; combined, the two pitchers struck out two Beavers.
Kiley Slaats added a stolen base for WSU but a trio of errors stymied the sweep opportunity in a game where both teams racked up eight hits apiece.
Winona State (27-15, 11-5 NSIC) will return to action on Tuesday, April 16 when they travel to Mankato, Minnesota for a NSIC doubleheader. The Mavericks and Warriors are set for a 2 p.m. first pitch in the rivalry match-up.
