> Winona State University > Athletics > Softball > Softball News/Releases > WSU Opens Region Play With 2-1 Win

WSU Opens Region Play With 2-1 Win

Story by: Winona State Sports Information Office


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 by Mollie Bjelland in the fourth inning and the strong pitching of Kristen Fossell guided the No. 6 Seed Warriors (36-13) to 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, as Leonard 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 field. 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 in control, holding the Jennies scoreless until she gave up a leadoff home run in the bottom of the sixth. That would the the final threat the Jennies would pose, as Fossell retired the next three straight batters to end the sixth inning. She then retired the three remaining batters in order in the last of the seventh to end the game.

Prior to that the Jennies 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.

Winona State will face conference foe Southwest Minnesota State University in the second round of region tournament play.

(Boxscore)

Last Modified: Friday, May 09, 2008 11:08 by Andrea Mikkelsen