Seven games in three days?
No problem for the Winona State University softball team.
The Warriors headed into this past weekend’s Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference crossover on a roll, and they planned to keep it that way.
WSU won all seven games of the NSIC crossover — some dramatically, others dominantly.
The Warriors kicked off the crossover against the host, Wayne State.
The Wildcats were one of the toughest opponents the Warriors faced in the tournament, but WSU came out on top, winning 6-4 in 10 innings.
The Warriors had their backs against the wall, as they were down 3-1 going into the seventh inning.
However, WSU registered three consecutive two-out hits with a runner on to bring in two runs to tie the game.
WSU had its back against the wall again in the ninth inning, as Wayne had the bases loaded with one out. But Kristen Fossell came up with a strikeout and induced a groundout to end the inning.
The tenth inning was the Warriors’ inning for the taking.
With one out and the bases loaded, first baseman Jenny Wilmes slammed a double to clear the bases, putting WSU up 6-3 and essentially sealing the win.
Fossell allowed just three earned runs and struck out 12 over the complete-game victory.
“With Kristen, it’s just a matter of great mental toughness,” WSU coach Greg Jones said. “She just sort of stayed after it and after it. A lot of times it comes down to execution and I thought she executed her pitches very well this weekend.”
The second game of the doubleheader wasn’t as suspenseful, as WSU won 5-1.
Leftfielder Mollie Bjelland was practically unstoppable at the plate, as she went 3-for-4 with two singles, a double, two runs and two RBIs.
Stacy Struzynski showed off on the mound as well.
In seven innings pitched, she only gave up one earned run on three hits while striking out 10 of the 24 batters she faced.
WSU followed that up with three great wins on Saturday.
The Warriors defeated Bemidji State in the first game 11-4.
WSU followed with a dramatic 4-3 win over MSU-Moorhead in 11 innings.
For the second consecutive start, Fossell had to pitch extended innings, as she pitched through all 11 innings to get the win.
WSU had a 2-0 lead going into the seventh inning, but Fossell faced a jam, as she loaded the bases with no outs. MSUM was able to get two runs in before the Warriors could retire the side.
In the 11th inning, with one out and a runner on third, centerfielder Chelsea Rosenow knocked home a walk-off single to win the game.
Rosenow went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
To close out the three games on Saturday, Struzynski pitched a lights-out game, throwing a no-hitter in a 4-0 win against Northern State.
Struzynski gave up one walk, costing her a perfect game.
Struzynski pitched seven innings and struck out 10 of the 23 batters she faced.
“Stacy in particular is pitching beyond her years,” Jones said. “But all of our pitchers are pitching well.”
The Warriors followed that up with two solid outings on Sunday.
Winona State got a 9-1 win against Mary in the Sunday opener and followed it up with a 9-0 shutout win against Minnesota-Crookston.
Shortstop Callie Givens hit a three-run home run in the second inning, and third baseman Laura Wright went 2-for-3 with two singles, both resulting in RBIs.
Against Crookston in the second game, WSU freshman pitcher Courtney Strang had some sting.
Strang pitched a five-inning no-hitter, striking out 13 of the 17 batters she faced.
On the offensive side, Bjelland was nearly unstoppable, going 3-for-3 on a single, double and home run, with four RBIs and two runs scored.
Incredibly, WSU led off the game with three consecutive solo home runs by Rosenow, Bjelland and Wilhelm.
So far, WSU is off to a tremendous start to the conference season, boasting a perfect 7-0 record in NSIC play.
WSU will head to St. Paul this weekend to play in the Concordia-St. Paul tournament, which will be particularly tough, since every team the Warriors will face has NCAA tournament experience.
“It’s going to be a major weekend,” Jones said. “All five teams that we play were in the NCAA tournament last season. It’s going to be difficult, but all we can do is show up, play our best and see what happens.”
The Warriors will take on Emporia State, Missouri Western and Nebraska-Omaha on Saturday and then take on Minnesota-Duluth and Southwest Minnesota State on Sunday.