Spencer Ellingson / Winonan
The No. 16 ranked Winona State University softball team used its high-scoring offense to score 47 runs in five games as the Warriors went 4-1 over the weekend during the Apple Market Classic in St. Joseph, Mo.
The Warriors began the weekend with a sweep, beating the University of Central Missouri 10-0 and Northwest Missouri State University 7-5 on Friday.
In the opener on Friday, Winona State blew the game open with nine runs in the second inning, including a base-clearing triple by senior Chelsey Rodenkirch.
Senior pitcher Hanna Lythberg allowed two baserunners on one hit in her shutout performance.
Head coach Greg Jones was very pleased with Lythberg’s performance.
“She was pounding the strike zone,” Jones said. “She was getting the outs we needed.”
The nightcap saw the Warriors jump out to another multiple-run inning, with five in the eighth inning, with first-year Lani Van Zyl blasting a two-run home run to center to make it 7-2.
This was Van Zyl’s first home run of her collegiate career.
“It was exciting,” Van Zyl said. “In high school I never had a home run so to have that happen this weekend in a game that was really close it definitely was special.”
Sophomore Alex Baldwin gave up two runs and seven hits in six innings.
Lythberg came into the game allowing three runs in the eighth inning before closing out a comeback attempt by the Bearcats.
The Warriors could not provide the same amount of runs Saturday, as they lost to Missouri Western State University 6-4.
Winona State coach Greg Jones said the offense performed well throughout the weekend.
“Offensively we hit the ball well every game,” Jones said, “We just could never pull ahead in this game.”
The Warriors gave up a 3-run home run in the first inning and were unable to climb their way back into the game.
Despite a home run by sophomore Paige Keagan the Warriors failed to score more than one run in an inning.
Sophomore McKenna Larsen gave up six runs, three of which were unearned.
Due to snowy conditions, the nightcap game against the University of Central Oklahoma was canceled Saturday.
They finished the trip with two wins on Sunday, beating Missouri Southern State University 14-1 and Emporia State University Hornets 12-4.
The Warriors hit three doubles and gave up no errors in their 13-run victory over the Lions.
Lythberg allowed one run on 18 at bats bringing her season record to 9-2.
With a .83 earned run average on the season, Lythberg is now in the top 20 in the nation.
Winona State ended the weekend by beating the Hornets.
They had yet another big inning scoring seven runs in the first inning.
The third inning was the only inning they did not score.
Senior Natalie Kalmes led the team with four hits in four at bats and five RBI’s.
Both Kalmes and Larsen hit a home run.
“I was relaxed I adjusted from the game before,” Kalmes said, “I was seeing the ball well and it just felt good.”
Larsen came in to pitch the fifth inning and struck out three of the six batters she faced and did not give up a hit.
Winona State (18-5) will start NSIC play this week with matchups at Upper Iowa University before returning home for matchups against Bemidji State University and the University of Minnesota-Crookston.
