WINONA, Minn. – Winona State picked up a huge win over No. 8 Minnesota State in today's second game to earn a doubleheader split at Loughrey Field.
The Warriors bounced back after a 15-6 loss in game one to walk it off against the Mavericks 6-5 in game two, handing No. 8 MSU just their second NSIC loss and third loss overall on the season.
Game One: MSU (15) – WSU (6)
Minnesota State jumped out to a commanding lead in the first inning, scoring eight runs before the Warriors stepped up to the plate. MSU grabbed two more in the third, but Winona State got one back on a
Jess Ondell RBI groundout.
Garrett Hietpas added another RBI groundout in the fourth to add another run for WSU. Winona State grabbed three more runs in the sixth and one in the seventh, but it wasn't enough as MSU tallied 15 total runs on the game to win 15-6.
Alex Berreth,
Adam Wall, and
Payton Beyer each had multi-hit games while Hietpas garnered two RBIs.
Cole Stanchina suffered the loss for Winona State after starting the game on the mound.
Game Two: WSU (6) – MSU (5)
The Mavericks scored first in the second game as well, scoring two in the second and one in the third to make it 3-0 early on. The Warriors fought right back, scoring three in the third off a
Kyle Yu double and a pair of unearned runs.
Josh Gullickson started the bottom of the sixth with a triple over the center fielders head and
Ryland Wall singled up the middle to score Gullickson and give WSU a 4-3 lead. The Warriors added an insurance run in the eighth on a
Josh Hatano sacrifice fly, scoring
Easton Arendt. Minnesota State rallied for a pair in the ninth to tie it up at 5-5.
Winona State put together a promising ninth inning as
Connor Weed earned a pinch-hit walk, then Gullickson walked to put a pair on with one down. Wall flied out to center field but advanced Weed to third base.
Ben Hefel was the hero for the Warriors, putting the ball in play down the third base line and scoring Weed for the walk-off win.
Theo Giedd started on the mound as the Warriors paired five pitchers together to pick up the win.
Logan LeTourneau was fantastic in relief, going 3.0 innings and allowing just one hit while striking out six of the 10 batters he faced.
Mason Beltrand picked up the win after pitching the top of the ninth.
Dylan Harer,
Ryland Wall, and
Easton Arendt each had mult-hit games to lead the Warriors.
Winona State (16-15, 12-10 NSIC) will travel to Augustana in Sioux Falls, SD for four games this weekend.
