For the past two weeks, pitcher Ross Hellenbrand has been the most consistent and probably the best player for the Winona State University baseball team.
The left-handed sophomore backed it up last weekend in a dominating performance against Mary (N.D.), striking out 14 and only allowing one hit in a complete-game 5-0 win, which garnered him Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference pitcher of the week honors.
Hellenbrand was flirting with a no-hitter, but it was spoiled by a single in the sixth inning.
Striking out 14 was not a fluke for Hellenbrand, who leads WSU with 46.
To go along with the strikeouts is a stingy 1.95 ERA, which also leads the team, and a conference-leading 2.29 ERA in NSIC play.
“He wants the ball every time,” WSU assistant coach Seth Wing said. “He’s just a horse out there.”
The season has been no fluke for Hellenbrand, who had a 4-1 record last season and an ERA of 3.90.
Hellenbrand has been brilliant on the mound this year, posting a 3-2 record and allowing a combined six earned runs in his two losses.
“We feel we can put him in some of the big games,” Wing said. “Good part is: He’s only a sophomore.”
Wing said that Hellenbrand has one tool working for him on the mound.
“He has a fastball in the mid-80s, but he does a good job hiding the ball,” Wing said.
Hellenbrand said his success this season has come from locating his fastball.
“Last year I wasn’t hitting my spots as much,” he said. “I’m hitting them this year and have been able to bust batters inside, not letting them get around on the ball.”
An adjustment Hellenbrand made during the offseason was shifting to the left side of the rubber, allowing him to jam fastballs in on right-handed batters.
Hellenbrand said his fastball won’t bail him out every time, so he’s working on an off-speed pitch.
“We’re working on it to make sure it gets over for strikes,” Hellenbrand said. “(Bryan) Ruff and (Don) Erdall have four or five pitches, and that makes them as successful as they are.”
Another weekend resulted in another split — something that’s getting awfully familiar for WSU this season.
It was the third split in five conference series this season, which is not allowing WSU to gain ground on conference leader Wayne State (Neb.).
“We thought we played four solid games this weekend,” Wing said. “We scored some runs, but not at times with runners in scoring position.”
Erdall tossed a complete game for WSU in the opener, giving up three runs and striking out three, but the offense was the letdown once again for the Warriors in the 3-1 loss.
In Game 2, Hellenbrand was the main man, giving up only one hit and striking out 14.
WSU was able to get its bats going, scoring five runs — four coming in the fourth inning.
In Game 3, Ruff allowed one run on three hits and had five strikeouts, as WSU won 3-1.
John Magee highlighted WSU’s offense with a solo home run in the fourth.
WSU fell 5-2 in the series finale, as Mary broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth, scoring the final three runs of the game.
WSU (14-11, 9-7) will host Concordia-St. Paul this afternoon in a two-game set.
Yet again, the WSU coaching staff will be watching the offense closely.
“Our batting average is right where it should be,” Wing said. “But we’re not getting hits at the right time.”
How satisfied are the coaches with the offensive output?
“It’s been a disappointment so far,” Wing said.
Reach Justin at JMagill06@winona.edu