MANKATO, Minn. – Winona State softball collected a doubleheader sweep over Southwest Minnesota State in a pair of late-inning rallies to win 4-3 and 10-4.
With the wins, the Warriors move to 31-4 overall and 10-0 in the NSIC.
Game One: WSU (4) – SMSU (3)
The Warriors put two runners on base in the top of the first inning but stranded the pair after SMSU got out of the jam. In the second, Winona State tallied a pair of runs as
Braelee Jodarski and
Alyssa Woelfel each hit a double in the inning to give WSU an early 2-0 lead. Another Jodarski double scored
Bryn Elsenpeter to give the Warriors a three-run lead after three.
Izzy Howe allowed one base runner in the first three innings before the Mustangs were able to string together three hits and score a pair of runs in the fourth. SMSU tied it up in the bottom of the sixth, but an Elsenpeter double followed by a two-out double from
Ashlee Chantos gave WSU the winning run.
Jayda Berg earned the save after pitching a 1-2-3 seventh inning as the Warriors hung on for the 4-3 victory.
Five different Warriors collected multiple hits and four WSU batters drove in a run.
Ashley Theisen earned the win in the circle, pitching 0.2 innings of relief.
Game Two: WSU (10) – SMSU (4)
Winona State struck first again when
Whitley Wischmeier drove in Chantos during the second inning. SMSU took a 2-1 lead in the fourth after a Warrior error. Winona State answered right back in the fifth after back-to-back doubles from Woelfel and
Tiegan Mancuso gave WSU a 3-2 lead.
Southwest Minnesota State scored two runs on two hits in the bottom of the fifth to jump back ahead. Winona State again answered back, this time stringing four straight hits on two outs to put up four runs in the inning. WSU added three more insurance runs in the seventh to run away with a 10-4 victory and the doubleheader sweep.
Berg started for WSU in the circle, going 4.1 innings and giving up three earned runs. Theisen pitched 0.2 innings and earned another win in relief. Howe picked up the save after allowing just two base runners in the final two frames.
Five Warriors had at least two hits led by Wischmeier's three hits and three RBI. Woelfel also collected three RBI and
Nicole Weinberger and Mancuso drove in two runs apiece.
Winona State is back in action tomorrow against Sioux Falls for a doubleheader beginning at 1pm in the RCTC Dome in Rochester, Minn.
