WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University softball team hosted league-leading Augustana University in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) doubleheader on Saturday, April 20, welcoming the Vikings to Alumni Field.
Augustana's power production proved to be too much for Winona State as the Vikings belted seven home runs over two games to pull away from WSU in both contests.
Game 1: Augustana 11, Winona State 1 | WSU battled back to tie Augie 1-1 when Carly Englehardt hit a deep fly ball to left to score Savanah Serdynski in the third inning after the Vikings opened the game with a leadoff home run by Andrea Cain. Unfortunatley for the Warriors, WSU would be held at bay the rest of the way by Augie's Grace Glanzer.
Abbie Hlas went 2-for-3 for WSU and
Savannah Serdynski added single to the Warrior effort.
Sam Keller and
Macy Brodin both drew walks for Winona State but the home side left six runners on base across the seven-inning affair. Augustana would pull away with three home runs in the game; Andrea Cain had two home runs and Desi Cuevas added one.
WSU's
Izzy Howe had the start in the Warrior circle, going 4 and 1/3 innings before
Abby Smith took over to close out the contest. The Winona State pitching duo combined for five strikeouts.
Game 2: Augustana 11, Winona State 8 | Winona State's
Jayda Berg went 6 and 2/3 innings in the Warrior start, striking out three and conceeding eight earned runs. WSU jumped out to a 4-2 lead after three innings, but an Augustana grand slam put the Vikings ahead 6-4 midway through the contest.
Offensively,
Logan Anderson and
Savannah Serdynski both had two hits, and both Warriors collected two RBI apiece. Hlas added two RBI to the WSU scoreline as the home side rallied to plate three runs in the bottom of the seventh but fell short in the comeback bid. Berg was saddled with the loss before giving way to
Morgan Smetana who wrapped up the contest.
Winona State (28-18, 12-8 NSIC) will host Southwest Minnesota State to wrap up their NSIC home stand. The Warriors and Mustangs will see first pitch at 1 p.m. in Alumni Field.
