WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University softball team used an impressive three-hit pitching performance from
Izzy Howe and a two-home run afternoon for
Carly Engelhardt to earn an important NSIC sweep over Southwest Minnesota State on Sunday, April, 21.
Game 1: Winona State 11, SMSU 0 | WSU starter
Izzy Howe was nearly unhittable in an impressive start against SMSU, racking up 10 strikeouts in the five-inning affair. Helping Howe early on was a quick-strike offense led by
Carly Engelhardt and
Sam Keller who hit 3-run home runs in the first and second innings, respectively, to vault WSU out in front.
Engelhardt had three RBI in the game and Keller collected four more, as WSU reached double-digits in the first four frames en route to the 11-0 win.
Teaghen Amwoza added a double and
Tiegan Mancuso chipped in two base hits in a strong offensive showing on Alumni Field.
Overall as a team, WSU scored 11 runs on 11 hits while drawing seven walks in the contest.
Game 2: Winona State 9, SMSU 1 | Winona State saw an impressive fifth-inning offensive display complete the sweep as the Warriors battled back from a 1-0 deficeit to win 9-1 in five innings over the Mustangs. WSU was held in check over the first four frames by SMSU starting pitcher Karlie Miller, but Winona State used a pair of bunt singles and a long ball from
Carly Engelhardt to ingite their offense and eventually end the game early.
Jayda Berg had the start for WSU and threw an effective four innings before yielding to
Abby Smith who earned the win. Berg and Smith combined to hold SMSU to six hits overall and one earned run. With the Warrior win, Smith moved to 10-7 on the year. Warrior catcher
Logan Anderson had a key defensive play in the top of the fifth when she threw out a would-be SMSU basestealer to end the inning and stymie a possible SMSU rally.
The explosive fifth frame for Winona State saw
Savannah Serdynski and
Tiegan Mancuso jump start the Warrior offense with back-to-back bunt singles, followed by base hits from
Sam Keller and
Abbie Hlas. A
Carly Engelhardt homer scored pinch-runner Corinna Loschek and open the floodgates for the home team. WSU would go to plate nine runs total in the inning, a remarkable turnaround that allowed WSU to claim the sweep with a pair of 5-inning victories.
Winona State (30-18, 14-8 NSIC) will host an important midweek NSIC doubleheader on Wednesday, as the Warriors welcome Concordia University, St. Paul to Alumni Field. WSU and CSP will see a 1 p.m. first pitch with a 3 p.m. game two to follow.
