Kilat Fitzgerald / Winonan

After winning five of its first six games, Winona State University women’s softball continued to claim victories with a pair of wins against University of Wisconsin-Parkside, with scores of 7-4 and 12-4 on Wednesday in Rochester at the RCTC Dome.

The first game saw the Warriors score in each inning except for one, leaving the final score at 7-4 in the opening game. The Rangers began the scoring affair with an RBI single in the top of the first, but Winona State fired back in the bottom of the inning with sophomore outfielder McKenna Larsen bringing in senior outfielder Reed Karsten.

Another pair of runs was added by the Warriors with RBI singles in the second from junior infielder Allyson O’Herron and sophomore third baseman Jamee Schleis to move the score 3-1.

O’Herron said the offense has been playing well lately.

“We all hit pretty well,” O’Herron said. “We work hard everyday together.”

Three runs were added by Parkside off Winona State starter Hanna Lythberg in the fourth, but this was met with Schleis adding her second RBI single and Karsten picking up a RBI double to center field, carrying the team back in the lead, 5-4.

For insurance sake, the Warriors managed to get runs in each of the next two innings with an RBI single from Mariah Schultz and another RBI double from Karsten for the 7-4 win.

Lythberg, the NSIC pitcher of the week, improved to 4-0 in the circle with a complete game victory, scattering five hits with two earned runs on three walks and four strikeouts.

Winona State head coach Greg Jones said Lythberg had a strong effort on the mound.

“She had another great game against Parkside,” Jones said. “She’s very gritty and very determined.”

The Warriors were thirsty for another win, as the nightcap game resulted in Parkside meeting a heavy defeat. Winona State starter Larsen had all the support she needed in the second inning when six runs were brought in.

In the top of the first, Parkside managed to score one run, but a double by Karsten scored two runs for the Warriors. This was followed up by Larsen scoring two more with a triple to center field, before a third hit from Schleis made it 6-1. First-year Lani Van Zyl also had a two RBI double in the next inning to bring Winona State even further in the lead at 8-1 and a later score on a wild pitch to extend it 9-1.

The Rangers hit a three-run home run to cut it 9-4, but this was retaliated by three runs in the bottom of the sixth on a two RBI triple from Larsen to grant her four RBI in the game with five total in the day. Winona State closed the deal with a final score 12-4.

Jones said the team is slowly progressing through the season but have been playing well.

“We’ve been very successful,” Jones said. “Overall, the kids are playing really well right now. It’s early, and it’s a slow build. We’re still a team developing.”

Winona State (7-1 overall) will head to Florida for a 10-game roadtrip starting with a matchup against St. Joseph’s (Ind.) on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Jones said the trip will be a good test for his team.

“Florida will help us define who we are and where our determination lies,” Jones said.