WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State baseball team took home two wins in a doubleheader against the University of Minnesota Duluth.
In the bottom of the third inning of the first game, the Warriors put up an astounding eight runs. WSU was able to hold off UMD for the remainder of the game, giving them the victory. Down four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning of the second game,
Alex Berreth came into pinch-hit and brought the score to within one with a three-run home run over the right field wall. Taking the lead in the bottom of the eighth with a single by
Ryland Wall and a grand slam from Berreth, the Warriors' lead proved insurmountable for the Bulldogs, granting Winona State the victory.
Game 1 | WSU 13, UMD 5
R Wall got the Warriors on the board first in the bottom of the second inning with a double to left center. In the remainder of the second, Winona State crossed home plate three more times with a single from
Max Pederson, a ground-out RBI from
Josh Hatano, and
Jack Funke reaching home on an error by the third baseman. In the top of the third inning, the Bulldogs got on the board, recording one run with a ground-out RBI by Nick Thompson. WSU's bats came alive in the bottom of the third, increasing the lead to 11 runs after scoring eight with singles from R Wall, Pederson,
Dylan Harer, and Berreth, R Wall scoring off a wild pitch, and Funke scoring by a fielder's choice play at second base. Adding one run to the already commanding lead in the bottom of the fourth, Winona State scored from Pederson's sacrifice fly to center field. In the top of the seventh, Minnesota Duluth cut into the scoring differential, recording four runs with Thompson crossing home plate off a throwing error, Sam Kilber scoring from third on a passed ball, and a two-run home run by Troy Lynch. WSU was able to hold off UMD for the remainder of the game, giving them the victory.
Game 2 | WSU 14, UMD 9
Lynch got the Bulldogs on the board early in the top of the first inning with a single to center field. Minnesota Duluth recorded four more runs in the top of the first with a walk when the bases were loaded and singles from Hayden Anthony and Thompson. Winona State answered back in their first at-bats of the game, recording two runs with a solo home run from
Garrett Hietpas and
Adam Wall scoring off an error. Adding one run to the lead in the top of the second, UMD scored with a ground-out RBI from Garrett Stauffacher. The Bulldogs scored one more run in the top of the fourth with a single from Nathan Rosenberg. In the bottom of the fourth, the Warriors recorded one run with a single from Peyton Beyer. Increasing the lead to six runs in the top of the fifth, Minnesota Duluth scored from Henry Bushey crossing home plate due to a fielding error and Gabe Richardson scoring due to a throwing error. Scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings, Winona State scored with a double from Gullickson and a single from Beyer. Coming into pinch-hit in the bottom of the seventh for the Warriors, Berreth brought the lead to within one with a three-run home run over the right field wall. Taking the lead in the bottom of the eighth, WSU recorded six runs with singles from Hietpas and R Wall, and a grand slam from Berreth, giving him his second home run in two at-bats. Winona State was able to hold Minnesota Duluth scoreless in the final at-bats of the game, granting them the sweep.
Individual Leaders:
- In game one, R Wall led the Warriors in hits with three. Pederson led the team in RBIs with three. Nathan Vela led Winona State on the mound, pitching 5.0 innings and striking out three batters. Vela received his first win of the season after his performance on the mound.
- In game two, Hietpas and R Wall led the Warriors in hits each with three. Berreth led the team in RBIs with seven. Cole Stanchina led Winona State on the mound, pitching 2.0 innings and striking out two batters. Stanchina received his second win of the season after coming in as a relief pitcher for WSU.
Team Comparison:
- Winona State collected a total of 69 at-bats, 29 hits, 21 RBIs, and 27 runs.
- Minnesota Duluth collected a total of 70 at-bats, 20 hits, 11 RBIs, and 14 runs.
- The Warriors as a team recorded a batting average of .429 on balls in play in game one and .424 in game two.
- The Bulldogs as a team recorded a batting average of .348 on balls in play in game one and .333 in game two.
Winona State University is back in action on Saturday, April 26th, when they begin a three-game series against the University of Sioux Falls. Saturday's doubleheader is set for 1:30pm and 3:30pm. The third game of the series is set for 12:00pm on Sunday, April 27th. All game are to be played at Loughrey Field in Winona, Minn.
