Looking to make a late season push inside the top eight of the NSIC softball standings, Wayne State College battled with one of the top teams in the league.
From Maynard R. Johnson Field in Winona, Minnesota, WSC met with the Warriors of WSU on Saturday.
The visiting Wildcats suffered back-to-back one-run games of 6-5 and 2-1. WSC has now dropped three straight falling to 29-22 (13-12 NSIC) as the Warriors improved to 38-13 (19-7 NSIC).
In the opening game, Winona State University began with three runs in the home half of the first inning.
Following a scoreless second, WSC plated a run in the top of the third. Redshirt freshman Kennadi Borngrebe used a RBI base hit driving in freshman Leah Chance.
The host Warriors answered with a single run in the home half of the fourth to go up 4-1.
Neither team scored in the fifth as Wayne State College caught fire and used a four-run top of the sixth to go ahead 5-4. Redshirt senior Mary Krystofiak reached on an error allowing sophomore Taylor Coleman to cross the plate followed by senior Hayley Murphy with a three-run homerun bringing in sophomores Payton Kincaid and Jordyn Rochholz.
Winona State plated the game-tying and game-winning runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Final favored the host Warriors winning 6-5 despite being outhit, 11-8. Wayne State College committed one error compared to WSU with two errors.
Hayley Murphy recorded a three-run homerun and singled; sophomore Emilee Marth singled three times as Leah Chance singled twice and scored.
Kennadi Borngrebe singled and drove in a run; Taylor Coleman singled and scored; sophomores Jordyn Klein and Lillie Timm both singled as Jordyn Rochholz and Payton Kincaid both scored.
Borngrebe (119 pitches) suffered the loss in six and a third innings allowing six runs (five earned) off seven hits while striking out eight batters and walking five. Senior Samantha Felt (seven) didn't record an out allowing one hit.
During the second outing, scoring began with a single run in the home half of the second inning for Winona State University.
Following back-to-back scoreless innings, the host Warriors added one more run in the bottom of the fifth to lead 2-0.
The Wildcats were held to one run in the top of the sixth. Freshman Maddie Scobee posted a RBI base hit driving in Marth.
Final favored Winona State University winning 2-1 despite being outhit, 5-4. Wayne State College committed one error compared to zero by WSU.
Emilee Marth singled, doubled and scored while Maddie Scobee singled and drove in a run.
Jordyn Klein and redshirt sophomore Taylor Fritz both singled.
Taylor Coleman (94 pitches) suffered the complete game loss in six innings allowing two runs (one earned) off four hits while striking out four batters, walking two and hitting one.
