ROCHESTER, Minn. - The Winona State University softball team swept Grand View University in season opener in the RCTC Dome, 3-1 and 8-0.
After making a comeback in game one, the Warriors took the game, 3-1 and continued the momentum into game two, winning 8-0, to start their 2025 season 2-0.
Game 1 | WSU 3, GVU 1:
Through four innings both Winona State and Grand View went scoreless creating a pitching battle between
Izzy Howe and Madi Huisman. GVU was the first team to get on the board with due to a Warrior error in the top of the fifth inning, but WSU was able to answer back in the bottom of the inning with
Indigo Fish hitting her first double as a Warrior to left field, and
Kailey Plank coming in to pinch run. Then
Sam Keller came up to bat and hit a single to right field allowing Plank to score, tying the game at 1-1. Keller put herself into scoring position by advancing to second off of a wild pitch during
Kiley Slaats' at bat. Slaats was able to find the gap in right center to get herself a double and to get Keller across home place to put the Warriors up 2-1 through five innings. The Vikings were unable to respond back in the top of the sixth, but Winona State was able to add another run in the bottom of the sixth.
Alyssa Woelfel was walked to start the bottom of the inning and then advanced to second base off of
Bryn Elsenpeter, who grounded out to the second baseman. Woelfel was then able to slide over to third off of a wild pitch getting her 60 feet closer to home plate.
Nora Brandt stepped up to the plate and laid down a bunt and reaching first and advancing to second off of a throwing error made by the GVU catcher, which allowed Woelfel to cross home plate to put WSU up 3-1. The Vikings had three more outs to continue through all seven innings but were unable to plate anymore runs.
Game 2 | WSU 8, GVU 0:
Starting game two, the Warriors where the first to get on the board, starting with Slaats reaching on off of an error then
Logan Anderson hit a double allowing Slaats to score and putting herself 60 feet closer to home by taking third on the GVU throw home. Both WSU and Grand View were unable to plate any more runs until the bottom of the fifth.
Tiegan Mancuso Started the inning by hitting a single to left field and Keller stepped up to the plate and sent one flying over the right center fence for a two run home run to put the Warriors up 3-0. The Vikings tried to answer back in the top of the sixth, but came up empty handed. Winona State went into the bottom of the sixth still looking to get more runs across, and they did just that. It all started with a walk by pinch hitter
Jaden Johnson followed by a triple hit by Fish allowing Johnson to score.
Braelee Jodarski stepping into the box and went the distance with her at bat hitting her first collegiate home run with the Warriors, putting WSU up 6-0. Both Keller and Slaats came up and singled and Anderson closed out the game with a double to score both Keller and Slaats to go up 8-0 to end the game with the run rule.
Jayda Berg, who was on the mound for all six innings, helped on the defensive side of the ball only allowing GVU to get three base runners on in the entire game earning her first shut out of the season.
Statistical Leaders:
- Keller led the team with a .571 batting average, slugging percentage (1.143), runs (3) and on base percentage (.571) going 4 for 7 at the plate.
- Fish led in triples (1).
- Jodarski and Keller both led in home runs, both collecting one.
- Anderson led in doubles (2).
- Keller and Anderson both led in RBIs, collectin three a piece.
- Howe led on the mound with eight strike outs.
- Berg led with a .50 WHIP (number of base runners allowed per inning pitched) and ERA with 0.00, earning herself a shut out.
Team Comparasion:
- Winona State collected 53 total at bats with 16 hits, 11 RBIs, three walks, 11 runs, 13 strike outs, and 10 left on base.
- Grand View collected 44 total at bats with seven hits, one RBI, four walks, one run, 13 strike outs, and 10 left on base.
- WSU as a team batted .208 in game one and .379 in game two.
- GVU as a team batted .174 in game one and .143 in game two.
Winona State starts their season with a 2-0 record going into their first dome tournament of the season in Sioux Center, Iowa where they will play two double headers against William Jewell College on Sunday, February 16 and Quincy University on Monday, February 17, with Sunday's game starting at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. and Monday's game starting at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
