North Central Region Live Stats

EMPORIA, KS -- Livestats for each of the NCAA Division II North Central Region Tournament games can be viewed at the following site:

www.emporia.edu/athletics/livestats/softball/xlive.htm

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EMPORIA, KS -- Winona State University kicked off the rain-delayed NCAA Division II North Central Region Tournament with a 2-1 win over the University of Central Missouri.

The first day of the tournament was completely wiped out from the rain that surrounded the Emporia, KS area.

A key hit my Mollie Bjelland in the fourth inning and the strong pitching of Kristen Fossell guided the No. 6 Seed Warriors (36-13) to the victory over the No. 3 Seed Jennies (36-21).

The Warriors were pretty much fooled by 20-game winner Megan Leonard during the first three and a third innings, a Leoncard had a perfect game going with seven strikeouts, including a streak of five consecutive strikeouts. But Amanda Wilhelm, who finished with two hits, broke up the no-hit bid with a base hit to right. After Chelsea Rosenow struck out, Bjelland lifted a fly ball to the gap in right-centerfield and raced to third with Wilhelm scoring the first run of the game. A throwing error by UCM then allowed Bjelland to score with what proved to be the winning run.

In the meantime Fossell was pretty much in control, holding the Jennis scoreless until she gave up a leadoff home run in the bottom of the sixth. That would the the final threat the Jennis would pose, as Fossell retired the next three straight batter to end the sixth and then retired the side in order in the last of the seventh to end the game.

Prior to that the Jennis went through four of the first five innings leaving a runner in scoring position.

On the game, Fossell scattered four hits, walked four and struckout four.

Besides Wilhelm, Laura Wright also had two of the Warriors' five hits.

The Warriors will meet conference foe Southwest Minnesota State University in the second round of the region tournament.