CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The Winona State baseball team split today's doubleheader against non-conference opponent, Mount Mercy University.
In the bottom of the seventh inning of the first contest,
Jess Ondell hit a single to center field to increase the Warriors' lead to seven runs. With the Mustangs unable to answer back, Winona State took the first contest 17-10. In the second contest of the day, Mount Mercy took a one-run lead with a single from Drew Terpins. With WSU unable to respond, MMU took the second contest 4-3.
Game 1 | WSU 17, MMU 10
Winona State recorded the first run of the contest with a double from
Alex Berreth. Answering back in their following at-bats, Mount Mercy tied it up with a sacrifice fly from Tyler Pecson, allowing Jaden Hackbarth to score from third. Adding onto their total in the bottom of the second inning, the Mustangs took the lead with a groundout RBI from Terpins, allowing Griffen Bushnell to cross home plate. Taking the lead right back in the top of the third inning, WSU recorded two runs with a single from
Dylan Harer and a single from
Jack Funke. Answering back and taking a three-run lead in the bottom of the third inning, MMU recorded four runs with a sacrifice fly from Cedric Dunnwald, singles from Garrett Dennis and Derek Einertson, and a double from Bryce Brown. To add to the onslaught of runs from both sides, Winona State answered back and took a four-run lead with singles from Berreth and
Cole Fuecker and a grand slam from Harer. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Mount Mercy brought the lead to within one with singles from Dennis and Bushnell and off a wild pitch, allowing one runner to score. The Warriors for the rest of the contest recorded seven more runs with two doubles and one single from Ondell, and one double and a ground-out RBI from Berreth. Only recording one more run in the contest with a passed ball, the Mustangs were unable to match WSU's offense allowing them to walk away with a 17-10 victory.
Game 2 | WSU 3, MMU 4
Winona State got on the board first with a double from
Garrett Hietpas. In the top of the third inning, the Warriors added one run to the lead when
Connor Weed was hit by a pitch, allowing Fuecker to cross home plate. Mount Mercy tied it up in the bottom of the fourth inning with a double from Dennis and a sacrifice fly from Michael Rivero. Answering back in the top of the sixth inning, WSU took a one-run lead when Hietpas was walked, allowing
Max Pederson to cross home plate. In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Mustangs took the lead back when Nick Meyer scored on an error, and Terpins singled to give them the lead. With Winona State unable to answer back, Mount Mercy received the 4-3 victory.
Individual Leaders:
- In game one, Josh Hatano led Winona State in batting average on balls in play with 1.000. Ondell led WSU in total bases with eight. Fuecker, Berreth, and Funke led the Warriors in quality at-bats, each with five. Nathan Vela led WSU on the mound, pitching 1.1 innings and recording four strikeouts.
- In game two, Fuecker led the Warriors in batting average on balls in play with 1.000. Pederson and Hietpas led Winona State in total bases with two. Pederson led WSU in quality at-bats with four. Andrew Regner led the Warriors on the mound, pitching 4.0 innings and recording three strikeouts.
Team Comparison:
- The Warriors collected a total of 86 plate appearances, 22 hits, 20 RBIs, and 20 runs.
- The Mustangs collected a total of 70 plate appearances, 20 hits, 10 RBIs, and 14 runs.
- Winona State as a team recorded a batting average of .500 on balls in play in game one and .357 in game two.
- Mount Mercy as a team recorded a batting average of .480 on balls in play in game one and .348 in game two.
Winona State is next in action on Thursday, March 27th, when they begin a four-game series against NSIC opponent Bemidji State University. The doubleheader for Thursday is set for 1:30pm and 3:30pm, and the doubleheader for Friday is set for 12:00pm and 2:00pm in Winona, Minn., due to a site reversal.
