Allison Mueller/Winonan

The Winona Sate University baseball team is 1-1 after their first two games of the Houston Winter Invitational in Houston, Texas.

The Warriors played Henderson State first, followed by Arkansas Tech. The last two teams they face are Tarleton State and Central Missouri.

The four teams the Warriors play in Houston are not only talented but also important.

Coach Kyle Poock said, “Three of the four games are in-region games, which are important when it comes to the NCAA rankings.”

Winona State has faced Central Missouri, one of the top teams in the country, in past seasons as well as in the World Series. The other three teams are also successful.

Brett Young, who is in his fifth year playing for the Warriors, said there would be a greater level of competition when facing the teams in the Houston Winter Invitational.

“It’s a DII level but DI competition,” Young said. “It will really be jumping into things right away but it will help us in the long run.”

The Warriors opened their four days of games with a win over Henderson State 3-2 on Saturday, Feb. 1.

After a quick triple put a runner in scoring position, Henderson State scored first in the top of the third and was leading 2-0.

In the bottom of the fifth Ryan Ledvina put the Warriors on the board after a grounder from Tyler Nehring.

Young followed with a single into the right field that plated Joseph Kubera and tied the game 2-2.

Travis Evanson hit a double in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring Ryan Nyhagen and giving the Warriors the lead.

Scott Freiburger and Kubera pitched scoreless eighth and ninth innings and secured the 3-2 win over Henderson State.

Poock said there was a very good effort from the bullpen, which contributed greatly to the Warriors’ win.

Starting pitcher Mike Wasilik only allowed two runs in four innings and struck out six, while Kubera struck out three in two innings. Scott Freiburger ended the game by pitching perfect in the bottom of the ninth.

The next day Winona State fell 1-10 against Arkansas Tech.

It was a rough start for the Warriors. Arkansas Tech scored four times in the first inning.

The second inning brought three more points for Arkansas Tech, giving them a 0-7 lead over Winona State.

After two more scores in the eighth inning and one more in the ninth, the Warriors were trailing 0-10.

In the bottom of the ninth Michael Hommes scored Andrew Geislinger after an RBI groundout to end the game.

“Arkansas Tech really swung the bats well and scored seven runs in the first two innings,” Poock said. “That put us in a big hole right away.”

Although Winona State lost 1-10, the Warriors’ pitching was impressive yet again.

Will Lundquist and Mark Ash threw five no-hit innings, Lundquist throwing three innings and Ash two.

Also, the Warriors showed patience and drew a total of seven walks.

Lucas Warren said that these four games in Houston as well as the practices before, are beneficial to the new players on the team.

“We have a pretty young team,” Warren said. “We have to get the new players up to speed of what college baseball is like.”

Freshman Hommes and sophomores Nehring, Nyhagen, Ash and Lundquist all played huge roles as young players in the first two games.

As of press time, the Warriors are set to face Tarleton State for their third game on Monday, Feb. 3, followed by Central Missouri Tuesday, Feb. 4. They will resume their spring schedule March 1 with a double-header against Wisconsin-Parkside.