It was a fantastic week for Winona State University’s softball team, as they went 4-2 over six games last week, including two wins over a solid Minnesota-Duluth squad.
The Warriors defeated the Bulldogs 6-2 in the first game of the double-header and made a miraculous come-from-behind victory in the second game, winning 10-9.
In the second game, the Warriors got off to a rocky start, as Duluth scored seven runs in the top of the first inning.
WSU pitcher Chelsea Ewing was only able to record two outs and gave up six runs on four hits.
Jones told the Warriors that they didn’t show up to this game to play one inning, but the entire game.
“We kind of started over from that point on and we came back to beat them,” Jones said.
The Warriors’ offense kicked it up into full gear by the third inning.
Down 7-2, Chelsea Rosenow hit a two-run home run to cut the Bulldogs’ lead to three.
Karyn Koehnle also hit a timely three-run home run in the bottom of the third, tying the game 7-7.
The Warriors also hosted a tournament last weekend. The Warriors dropped both games on Saturday but won both on Sunday.
WSU struggled offensively in the first game, falling to Parkside (Wis.) 4-0, before losing 3-2 to Lewis (Ill.) in eight innings in Game 2.
Rosenow hit another two-run home run in the first inning but it wasn’t enough, as Lewis scored in the top of the eighth on a fielder’s choice to first.
The Warriors had a chance, as Courtney Strang tried to score for first but was thrown out at home plate.
WSU redeemed itself Sunday with, as it won both games against Parkside and St. Cloud.
The Warriors first took out Parkside in impressive fashion, winning 8-0.
WSU backed up that performance with an equally impressive defensive performance, defeating the Huskies 3-0.
After struggling early in the week, Ewing pitched a complete seven-inning game, giving up only six hits and striking out 12.
Mollie Bjelland smacked a grand slam in the seventh inning to seal the WSU win.
In the St. Cloud game, Kristen Fossel was lethal on the mound, as she pitched a two-hit complete game.
The Warriors only recorded four hits but took advantage of scoring when they needed to.
Terra Halron recorded two of the four WSU hits and added a run and an RBI.
“We are at our best when we are all hitting,” Jones said. “Our pitchers threw well all week and we didn’t make many mistakes defensively. If we can throw the ball well and catch the ball well, we are in good shape.”