SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Winona State softball team will play five-seed Augustana in the semifinals of the NSIC Tournament at 12:00pm today at the Bowden Complex.
The one-seeded Warriors defeated No. 8 seed Southwest Minnesota State in the quarterfinals yesterday. Augustana, the five-seed, won their quarterfinal match up with a score of 15-14 over Minnesota State. Winona State swept the Vikings earlier in the season in a doubleheader at home.
(1) Winona State Notes:
- The Warriors (48-8, 26-4 NSIC) are coming of a 4-2 win in their NSIC Tournament opener yesterday.
- Winona State entered the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll in second place and finished the season with a shared first place NSIC regular season title.
- The WSU bats are hitting .325 as a team with a slugging percentage of .505 and an on-base percentage of .406.
- The Winona State pitching staff holds a collective season ERA of 2.40 and a team WHIP of 1.11 while holding opponents to a .225 batting average.
- The NSIC Player of the Year, Alyssa Woelfel leads the team in batting average (.423), on base plus slugging percentage (1.193), hits (77), doubles (18), and total bases (124).
- Bryn Elsenpeter was another Warrior with First Team All-NSIC honors. Elsenpeter leads the team in home runs (12), RBI (51), and walks (32).
- Jayda Berg was the final Warrior to receive First Team All-NSIC honors as she led the conference in wins with a 20-4 record along with a WHIP of .97 and a team low 1.96 ERA.
- Tiegan Mancuso has been a solid left bat for WSU with a batting average of .337 and an OPS of .795. Mancuso also holds 10 doubles and 22 walks this season including six HBPs.
- Lila McNeill and Ashlee Chantos both bat .329 and .328, respectively. McNeill has 56 hits this season with 13 doubles and two triples. Chantos has 22 RBIs and 53 total bases. Defensively, Chantos and McNeill have been lights out with only five errors collectively all season.
- Second Team All-NSIC pitcher Izzy Howe has an outstanding 1.12 WHIP and 2.27 ERA with a 19-3 record.
- Braelee Jodarski is coming off a two-homerun quarterfinal game along with leading Winona State with four triples this season.
- Ashley Theisen has been the Warriors lock down relief pitcher as a freshman, holding an ERA of 2.74 and a WHIP of 1.16 and a undefeated 9-0 record.
(5) Augustana Notes
- The Vikings (28-26, 19-11 NSIC) are coming off a homerun derby 15-14 win over Minnesota State.
- Augustana is lead by pitcher Helene Krage who holds a ERA of 4.23 and a team high WHIP of 1.48.
- NSIC Freshman of the Year Kierra Lubovich leads Augie with a batting average of .428 and an OPS of 1.236.
- NISC Newcomer of the Year Claire Wynja carries a .355 batting average with a .981 OPS along with 27 RBIs on 44 hits.
The winner of today's game advances to the NSIC Tournament Finals at 12:00pm on Saturday, May 9th against the winner of Wayne State versus St. Cloud State.
