SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Winona State baseball competes against Minnesota State in the second round of the 2026 NSIC Baseball Tournament at 3:30pm this afternoon at The Birdcage in Sioux Falls, S.D.
 
The sixth-seeded Warriors defeated No. 3 seed UMary 6-2 in the opening round yesterday. Minnesota State, the second seed, won 9-0 in their tournament opener. Winona State and Minnesota State split the regular season in a pair of close games.
 
(6) Winona State Notes:

• The Warriors (26-24, 20-16 NSIC) are coming off a 6-2 win in their NSIC Tournament opener yesterday.
• Winona State entered the 2026 season ranked 10th in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll and finished sixth in the 2026 NSIC standings.
• Dylan Harer is currently riding an 18-game hit streak with a hit in 21 of his last 22 contests. Harer mashed a go-ahead three-run blast in a 6-3 victory over Northern State last weekend.
• On the year, Harer leads WSU in batting average (.337), hits (55), runs (42), RBIs (41), total bases (92), doubles (11), and is tied with Adam Wall with eight home runs on the season.
• Pederson has been a key contributor behind the plate for Winona State all season. Pederson holds a .316 batting average while starting 37 games behind the plate in 2026.
• Connor Weed has been finding his stride for WSU, including a 2-4 night with a pair of RBI against UMary.
• As a team, WSU has a .279 batting average and a .396 on-base percentage through 50 games.
• Sawyer Hoffman (4-2) leads the pitching staff with a 4.82 ERA in 56.0 innings, allowing 68 hits and 30 earned runs across 11 appearances. Hoffman leads the NSIC in strikeouts looking at 26.
• Hunter Guenther (4-2) posts a 4.98 ERA while leading the staff in innings pitched (59.2) and strikeouts (66). Guenther is tied for fourth in the NSIC in strikeouts looking at 22 and is T-sixth for strikeouts with 66.
• Boyd Skelley leads the squad with 21 appearances on the bump to go with a 4.29 ERA.
• The Warriors pitching staff composes a 5.69 ERA, good for fifth in the NSIC, with 361 strikeouts in 387.2 innings pitched.

 
(2) Minnesota State Notes:

• The Mavericks (38-12, 29-7 NSIC) defeated Minot State 9-0 in the first round of the NSIC Tournament.
• Minnesota State finished second in the NSIC regular season standings.
• MSU is led by Jake Berkland at the plate, hitting .365 in 50 starts with 65 hits and 79 runs.
• CJ Trask was named the NSIC Newcomer of the Year after hitting .365 in the regular season with 58 RBI and 61 hits.
• The Mavericks are headed by their top three pitchers who are a combined 21-2 this season. Mack Crowley pitched yesterday in a complete-game win while Sam George and Daniel Zang each carry a 2.61 ERA.
• Minnesota State was ranked sixth in the most recent regional rankings.

 
The winner of today's game advances to the winner's bracket finals at 12:00pm on Friday, May 8th. The loser will play again 45 minutes following the matchup today.