Erin Cochran/Winonan

The Winona State men’s baseball team is now 11-11 after splitting their games on the road against Southwest Minnesota State and Concordia-St. Paul.

The team split a doubleheader in Sioux Falls against Southwest Minnesota State winning the first game 11-3 and 10-5 in game two on April 4.

In game one, Winona State hit four homeruns, with three in the third inning alone.

Derek Wojcik put the Warriors on the board, scoring off a single from Johnathan Nelson to left field. Ryan Nyhagen helped move the score to 3-1 in the second on a double, bringing in two.

In the fourth inning, the Warriors exploded when they increased their advantage to 7-1. Brett Young and Seth McMullen started the inning off with back-to-back solo home runs. Nelson then proceeded to get hit by a pitch and was brought home by a double by Cody Strang.

McMullen knocked out another home run in the fourth bringing in two runners, increasing the score 9-1.

The Mustangs scored twice in the sixth inning, but Winona State responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame with a RBI single by Strang and a walk by Lucas Warren with the bases loaded.

Tyler Zemla threw six innings for the Warriors and gave up three runs, six hits and striking out five. Brandon Verthein pitched relief and preserved the 11-3 victory.

In game two, Southwest Minnesota State came out strong after a high deficit loss in game one by scoring three runs in the first.

They increased their lead with two runs in the third.

In the bottom of the third, the score was cut by two as McMullen and Young both brought in runs.

McMullen recorded his second RBI of the game and Young brought in a solo home run in the fourth. Strang started off the sixth inning with a single that he was able to advance and score on, allowing the Warriors to come within one, 6-5.

That was as close as Winona State would get in the nightcap as the Mustangs pulled off one more hit in the seventh and three more in the eighth to close the game at 10-5.

On the mound, Verthein allowed four hits and one home run during his 5 2/3 showing.

In game two, Young went 3-for-5 at the plate and both Strang and McMullen recorded two hits. Altogether, the Warriors recorded 12 hits in the game.

On April 6, the Warriors took on Concordia-St. Paul in Fayette, Iowa.

In game one, the Winona State took an early 3-0 lead as Wojcik hit a leadoff home run in the first and Nelson drove in two runners with a double in the third.

The Golden Bears took over the game in the fourth, scoring six runs to command a 6-3 advantage. The Warriors were able to pull within one in the fifth, adding two runs of their own.

Winona State scored once in the sixth as Sill drew a bases loaded walk, but the Golden Bears were able to turn a double play off a McMullen hit.

In game two, McMullen brought in Ryan Ledvina on a RBI double as Sill hit a single that drove in McMullen.

The Warriors increased their lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the fourth from Sill scoring on a double and Young following with a RBI single.

In the sixth, Strang had a two-run homer, pushing the Warriors’ lead to 7-1. Concordia-St. Paul scored three in the top of the seventh but Winona State added four more in the bottom of the frame.

Strang went 3-for-3 on the day with a double, a stolen base and a home run.

After he hit .636 in the six games last week, the centerfielder was named NSIC’s Baseball Player of the Week.

He went 12-of-19 with eight RBIs and four homeruns. His on base percentage was .696.

Saturday’s nightcap against Concordia-St. Paul had to be pushed back due to rain, but the Warriors were able to hold their lead when they resumed Sunday April 7 for the 11-5 victory.

Jay Voter threw five innings and allowed one run and three hits during his first collegiate victory. Will Lundquist three two innings of relief and struck out two while giving up a run and four hits.

As far as making adjustments to fix the small mistakes, the team is optimistic about the rest of the season.

“Making the regional tournament has been our goal from the beginning of the season,” said Sill. “We have a lot of upperclassmen this season and we all know anything can happen if we make it.”

“We need to make sure that we keep working hard all year long so we can be the best team we can be when the post season comes around,” said Nelson.

“The top contenders in our division are for sure Minnesota State Mankato and St. Cloud State,” said head coach Kyle Poock. “Our league is also loaded with a lot of very good baseball teams.  The depth in the NSIC is as good as any league in the country.”

The Warriors are now split on the season, 11-11 overall and 5-3 in NSIC play. The Warriors will return to the diamond on April 13 as they travel to St. Cloud to take on one of their top contenders, St. Cloud State Huskies.

Contact Erin at [email protected].