RALSTON, Neb. – The Warriors were unable to get the offense going all day, dropping two games against the Sioux Falls Cougars.
Game One: USF (6) – WSU (0)
The Warriors stranded two baserunners in the top of the first after
Dylan Harer and
Max Strecker singled in the frame. USF jumped up 2-0 after plating two runs in the bottom of the first. Sioux Falls grabbed a run in the third and blew the game open with a three-spot in the fifth, making it 6-0. Winona State struggled at the plate all game, registering only six hits against the Cougars' ace Jake Ammann.
Easton Arendt and Strecker led the Warriors lineup, as each logged a pair of hits in the loss.
Hunter Guenther (2-2) got the start on the bump, going 5.0 innings but taking the loss. He allowed six runs (five earned) to go with his four strikeouts.
Logan LaPlante pitched a scoreless 1.0 inning in relief.
Game Two: USF (8) – WSU (3)
Winona State fell behind 2-0 after USF scored a run in the first and second frames to make it 2-0 after two innings. Arendt plated the Warriors' first run of the game after a Strecker single made it 2-1 in the top of the third. The Cougars hit a three-run blast in the fourth, extending their lead to 5-1. After another run by USF, Winona State netted two runs in the sixth after a
Klayton Hawkins double scored
Adam Wall and Strecker, cutting the deficit to 6-3. Sioux Falls added insurance runs in the seventh and eighth, ending the game at 8-3.
Five Warriors recorded hits in game two, with Hawkins leading the way with two RBIs.
Nathan Vela (0-2) took the loss in game two, going 4.0 innings allowing five runs (one earned) in the start. He struck out five batters and allowed five hits in the matchup.
Wesley Johnson pitched the final 4.0 innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits while punching out two hitters.
The Warriors (5-10, 1-4 NSIC) look to turn the page tomorrow, March 14, in the final two games of the four-game series with Sioux Falls. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00pm in Ralston, Neb.
