BRANSON, Mo. – The WSU softball team came out on top at the NCAA DII Battle beating Truman State, Southwest Baptist and taking two of three games against William Jewell.
Game One: WSU (3) – TSU (2)
Winona State found themselves in an early hole after Truman State was able to capitalize early scoring two runs in the top of the first inning.
Hannah Soderbeck drove in the first run for the Warriors making the deficit for WSU after one, 2-1. Later, it was all Winona State with Soderbeck locking in her second RBI on a single in the third inning, driving in
Alyssa Woelfel.
WSU would lock in the last run of the game from
Bryn Elsenpeter in the sixth inning after she singled and brought in
Madi Rowe to give the Warriors their first and final lead of the day. Pitcher
Izzy Howe would finish the final inning with two strikeouts to give Winona State the 3-2 victory.
Game Two: WSU (4) – SWB (1)
After an absolute clinic of 1-2-3 innings from
Jayda Berg in the bottom of the first, second, and third inning Winona State would take the lead off of an
Ava Smith home run to lead off the top of the fourth. Berg continued her success not allowing another Southwest Baptist scorer for the remainder of the game.
The game would be a stalemate for the remainder of regulation and would move into extra innings where WSU found themselves with the lead after a RBI single from
Whitley Wischmeier, scoring Rowe. The Warriors were able to recruit some insurance runs with Elsenpeter and Woelfel both tallying RBI singles and giving Winona State the 4-1 win through nine.
Game Three: WSU (8) – WJC (13)
Winona State took an early advantage against the Cardinals with the first three batters getting on base in the first inning and grand slam by
Jenna James to give the Warriors a 5-0 lead early. Alas, the William Jewell offense found their spark in the bottom of two, scoring five runs of their own to tie the game up. WSU would add to their lead in the top of four with a powerful RBI single to center field from Woelfel and a patient walk from
Indigo Fish.
Unfortunately for the Warriors, William Jewell found the barrel of the bat in the fifth inning with a three-run home run from Lexi Lopez to give the Cardinals their first lead of the day. The Warriors would be unable to claw their way back losing the game 13-8 and a loss to pitcher
Anna Zaruba.
Game Four: WSU (2) – WJC (0)
In game four for the Warriors, Berg would throw a masterclass shut out game pitching all seven innings and tallying four Ks and only four total hits. Smith would lock in the first RBI for the Warriors in the first inning scoring
Lila McNeill. Soderbeck would answer in the fifth inning with an insurance RBI single to left field, scoring Rowe. Berg would handle the rest by finishing the game with a score of 2-0, Warriors.
Game Five: WSU (6) – WJC (0)
Howe would start the final game for the Warriors dealing with the top of the Cardinals order, the WSU offense would help their pitcher by scoring three runs in the first two innings.
Braelee Jodarski showed up in the fourth inning, sending a rocket to left field and gathering her first home run of the season.
With the Winona State defense in flow state, and the offense clicking there was no room for a comeback on the side of William Jewell.
Tiegan Mancuso would score the Warriors final run of the tournament after an RBI single from Elsenpeter. Winona State would go on to shut out the Cardinals offense for a second straight game, winning 6-0.
Winona State will travel next to Rosemont Ill. where they will play Wayne State, Grand Valley State, Truman State and UW-Parkside.
