WINONA, Minn - A complete and balanced performance by the Winona State University softball team led to a sweep of the Concordia University, St. Paul Golden Bears on Wednesday, April 24, with WSU earning 8-7 and 9-1 Warrior wins.
Sam Keller needed just two pitches to belt two home runs in the lead off spot of the Warrior order and an inspired Winona State defensive effort combined with strong pitching allowed WSU to climb the ladder in the NSIC standings. Head coach
Greg Jones saw the wins complete the Warrior home slate in fine fashion as the postseason picture comes into focus.
Game 1: Winona State 8, Concordia, St. Paul 7 | Sam Keller hit a pair of solo home runs, one each in her first two at-bats, while
Kiley Slaats and
Logan Anderson both added long balls to the WSU offensive effort. However, it took an
Abbie Hlas single in the bottom of the seventh inning to allow WSU to escape with an 8-7 victory after the Golden Bears stormed back to tie the game at 7-7 following their final at-bats.
WSU starter
Izzy Howe went four and 2/3 innings, scattering five hits while striking out five and walking three.
Abby Smith took over for Howe with one out to go in the fourth and would go on to earn the Warrior win. Smith was a key part of a WSU defensive effort in the top of the seventh, effectively fielding a hard-hit ground ball to start a 1-6-3 double play. Smith's key play in the circle followed an inning in which Warrior catcher
Logan Anderson threw out CSP base runner Riley Rosenthal while trying to steal second.
After CSP tied the game 7-7 on a Golden Bear solo home run, Hlas's hit with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh scored pinch runner
Kailey Plank after Plank took over second base following an Anderson double.
Game 1: Winona State 9, Concordia, St. Paul 1 | Jayda Berg went the distance in the Warrior circle for WSU in the nightcap, earning a key victory and sweep for Winona State. Berg allowed just one earned run in the contest while striking out four Golden Bears, leading the way for her team to claim the important home sweep.
WSU scored eight runs in the bottom of the first frame, courtesy of several walks and a handful of base hits to stake an early lead. However, after a bases-clearing
Abbie Hlas double that scored
Sam Keller and
Tiegan Mancuso to wrap up the scoring, WSU would be held scoreless by CSP over the next four innings.
While the Warrior bats cooled momentarily, WSU turned to defense to defend their lead, with
Sam Keller,
Teaghen Amwoza and Hlas all making key plays on CSP batters to preserve the Winona State advantage. Finally, in the bottom of the sixth,
Alyssa Woelfel knocked a single to right center, scoring
Kiley Slaats to complete the sweep and giving WSU a 9-1 win in six innings.
Winona State (32-19, 16-8 NSIC) hits the road for the final two regular season NSIC doubleheaders of 2024. WSU will face off with the University of Sioux Falls on Saturday, April 27, with a 1pm first pitch against the Cougars. Following the series against USF, WSU will play at Wayne State College on Sunday, April. 28, as the Warriors and Wildcats are set for noon start.
