WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State University baseball team split today's doubleheader against NSIC opponent, the University of Minnesota Crookston winning the first contest 4-1 and losing the second 5-10.
In the top of the ninth inning, the score tied at one run apiece, the Warriors took the lead with a single from
Josh Gullickson and a two-run home run from
Ben Hefel. With the Golden Eagles unable to answer back, WSU received the 4-1 victory. Down by ten runs going into the back half of the second contest, Winona State was able to decrease the lead by scoring five runs in the top of the fifth and seventh innings. Minnesota Crookston's lead proved to be insurmountable for the Warriors, giving the Golden Eagles the 10-5 victory.
Game 1 | WSU 4, UMC 1:
Winona State recorded the first run of the contest in the top of the third inning with a solo home run to right field from
Dylan Harer. Minnesota Crookston answered back in the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo home of their own from Connor Bushbaum. Taking the lead back in their final at-bats of the contest, the Warriors scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning with a single from Gullickson and a two-run home run from Hefel. With the Golden Eagles unable to answer back in their final at-bats, WSU received the 4-1 victory.
Game 2 | WSU 5, UMC 10:
Minnesota Crookston recorded the first three runs of the contest with a single from Josh Dykhoff and an error by the first base allowing Danny Wensloff and Brock Larsen to cross home plate. In the bottom of the third inning, the Golden Eagles recorded five funs with Larsen scoring from third off a walk, two wild pitches, Kobe Senn scoring from third on a passed ball, and a triple from Kyler Miller. Adding two more runs to their lead in the following inning, UMC recorded two runs with Larsen scoring off a wild pitch and a single from D. Wensloff. Fitting back from down 10-0 going into the top of the fifth inning, Winona State recorded one run with a sacrifice fly from
Garrett Hietpas. In their last at-bats of the contest, the Warriors recorded four runs with a single from
Tyler Flis, a wild pitch allowing
Kyle Yu to cross home plate, doubles from
Max Pederson and Yu, and a ground-out RBI from
Josh Hatano, allowing Flis to cross home plate. Minnesota Crookston's lead proved to be insurmountable for the Warriors, giving the Golden Eagles the 10-5 victory.
Individual Leaders:
- In game one, Jess Ondell led WSU in batting average on balls in play with 1.000. Hefel and Harer led Winona State in total bases with four. Josh Hawksford led the Warriors in quality at-bats with three. Pierce Gritzmaker led WSU on the mound, pitching 5.1 innings and recording six strikeouts.
- In game two, Pederson, Yu, Flis, and Harer led Winona State in batting average on balls in play with 1.000 each. Yu led the Warriors in total bases with three. Hatano led WSU in quality at-bats with three. Easton Arendt led Winona State on the mound, pitching 2.0 innings and recording three strikeouts.
Team Comparison:
- Winona State collected a total of 72 plate appearances, 18 hits, eight RBIs, and nine runs.
- Minnesota Crookston collected a total of 70 plate appearances, 14 hits, seven RBIs, and 11 runs.
- The Warriors as a team recorded a batting average of .174 on balls in play in game one and .400 in game two.
- The Golden Eagles as a team recorded a batting average of .118 on balls in play in game one and .524 in game two.
Winona State is next in action on Sunday, April 6th, when they finish out the final two games of a four-game series against the University of Minnesota Crookston. The doubleheader is set for 1:00pm and 3:00pm in Crookston, Minn.
