SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Winona State University softball team falls in the NSIC Championship game against Augustana Univeristy.
In the start of the game, the Warriors would would find themselves in having to make a come from behind run when AU's Ashton Dorman hit a single up the middle to score two runs. Ella Cooper hit a single to score another run followed by Stella Harber hitting a single up the middles to score two more for the Vikings. Liz Dierks would then hit a single to score Harber and Desi Cuevas would reach on off of a fielder's choice scoring another run, putting Augustana up 8-0.
The Warriors would start the second inning with a single hit by
Bryn Elsenpeter followed by
Kiley Slaats reaching on off of a fielder's choice and Elsenpeter sliding in safe to second on a throwing error made by the Vikings' second baseman.
Jaden Johnson would then step up to the plate and hit a single up the middle to score Elsenpeter and put runners on first and second. WSU were unable to plate any other runs in the second, trailing 8-1.
In the top of the third, Winona State would get
Sam Keller on off of a walk followed by a
Indigo Fish hitting a single up the middle to put runners on first and second. In the bottom of the inning, Augustana would plate another run when Lexi Lander hit a RBI single to score Cuevas to put the Vikings up 9-1.
The Warriors would chip away with a single hit by Slaats, but WSU was unable to hit around leaving Slaats at first. The Vikings would score four more runs in the bottom of the fourth with a RBI single by Norah Christiansen, a RBI fielder's choice by Dierks, and a two run home run by Andrea Cain to put AU up 12-1.
The Warriors would try to make their comeback in the top of the fifth with Keller hitting a single to the shortstop, but WSU was unable to find the gaps to hit in any other runs, falling to the Vikinings 12-1 in five innings in the NSIC Championship game.
After the game,
Bryn Elsenpeter,
Jaden Johnson,
Sam Keller, and
Izzy Howe were named NSIC All-Tournament Team for their performances in the conference tournament.
The Warriors will not await the NCAA Division II selection show to see if they earn a spot in the NCAA DII Tournament, which the selection show will take place on Monday, May 5.
