SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Winona State baseball team dropped both contests in a doubleheader against Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) opponent, the University of Mary.
With the Warriors unable to answer back, the Marauders' bats were on fire through the first three innings of today's first contest, giving them an 11-3 victory over Winona State. The score remained close throughout today's second contest and came down to the final inning. WSU could not answer back in the bottom of the ninth, giving UMary the 7-5 victory.
Game 1 | WSU 3, UMary 11:
The Marauders' bats came ready to play, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning with a single from Kieran Gaffney, a double from Noah Hull, and a two-run home run from Isaac Pegors. In the top of the second inning, they tacked on four more runs with singles from Gaffney and Bryce Leafgren, a double from Kalem Haney, and a triple from Hull. Following their performance in the first two innings at the plate, UMary added two more runs to the scoring differential on a single from Hank Griffin and a double from Luke Rhee. Winona State answered back in the bottom of the third and fourth innings, decreasing the scoring deficit with a ground-out RBI from
Jack Funke, allowing
Joshua Hawksford to score, and a balk from the pitcher, allowing
Josh Gullickson to cross home plate. In the top of the sixth inning, the Marauders added to their lead with a single from Gaffney, in their next at-bat, the Warriors answered back with an RBI ground-out from
Alex Berreth, allowing
Cole Fuecker to score. WSU was unable to rally in the bottom of the seventh inning and lost the first contest of the doubleheader 11-3.
Game 2 | WSU 5, UMary 7:
The Warriors got the ball rolling early with their first at-bats of the contest, scoring three runs with a single from
Dylan Harer,
Josh Hatano getting hit by a pitch, allowing Berreth to cross home plate, and
Max Pederson walking, allowing Gullickson to score. UMary responded in their next at-bats, scoring two runs with a single from Griffin and a double from Marcus Butts. They would take a one-run lead in the top of the third inning with a two-run home run from Pegors. Winona State's defense, led by
Easton Arendt on the mound, held UMary scoreless in three consecutive innings to keep the score at Marauders 4, Warriors 3. In the top of the seventh inning though, UMary added two more runs to increase the lead by three with an error allowing Krece Papierski to score and a sacrifice fly from Griffin, allowing Butts to tag at third and cross home plate. WSU answered back in the bottom of the eighth inning, scoring two runs with a home run from Harer and Funke walking, allowing
Kyle Yu to cross home plate. In the top of the ninth inning, the Marauders added one more run with a double from Mikey Ramirez. Winona State was unable to answer back in their final at-bats of the contest, allowing UMary to receive a 7-5 victory.
Individual Leaders:
- In game one, Fuecker, Hawksford, and Gullickson led the Warriors in batting average, each with .500. Fuecker led Winona State in total bases with three. Funke and Jess Ondell led WSU in quality at-bats, each with two. Brayden Deering led the Warriors on the mound, pitching 4.1 innings and recording one strikeout.
- In game two, Harer and Gullickson led Winona State in batting average, each with .500. Harer led WSU in total bases with six. Fuecker, Funke, and Harer led the Warriors in quality at-bats, each with three. Arendt led Winona State on the mound, pitching 5.0 innings and recording four strikeouts.
Team Comparison:
- The Warriors collected a total of 68 plate appearances, 12 hits, seven RBIs, and eight runs.
- The Marauders collected a total of 82 plate appearances, 22 hits, 17 RBIs, and 18 runs.
- Winona State as a team batted .167 in game one and .286 in game two.
- UMary as a team batted .462 in game one and .308 in game two.
Winona State will play the final two contests of the four-game weekend series against the University of Mary on Saturday, March 22nd, at 12:00pm and 2:00pm at the Sanford Sports Complex in Sioux Falls, S.D.
