Cougars Open 2013 with 11-3 Loss to Winona State

Winona State senior Brittany Stewart and a 12-hit onslaught powered Winona State University (1-0) to an 11-3, six-inning victory over Sioux Falls (0-1) tonight at the NSIC/MIAA Crossover Tournament in Rochester, Minn.

The night belonged to Stewart, who limited the Cougars to two runs on one hit with four strikeouts in 4.1 innings of work. Stewart also led the Warriors at the plate, going 3-for-3 with an RBI, one walk and a run scored.

Senior Naomi Tesar broke up the Warriors' no-hit bid with an RBI double in the top of the third inning.

The game couldn't have started much better for the visiting Cougars. Freshman Brooke Stetzler led off the game with a four-pitch walk before fellow newcomer Erin Scott hit a grounder on a 1-2 count that was muffed by the Warrior third baseman. When the dust cleared, speedy Stetzler had touched home plate and Scott was standing on second. But Stewart quickly took control from the circle, as she retired the next three Cougars via the strikeout method.

Winona State led off its half of the first with back-to-back singles. With runners at second and third after a fly out, Warrior Brooke Piotrowski scored on a passed ball and Stewart helped her own cause with an RBI double that put the Warriors in front, 2-1.

After the Cougars went quietly on their next turn, the Warriors plated three in the bottom of the second inning. Smart base-running by Warrior senior Kaitlin Hardie gave WSU a 3-1 edge, when she drew a lead-off walk and later scored on an error by the Cougar pitcher. The Warriors also scored on a sacrifice and a Jenny Nelson RBI double.

USF rallied in the top of the third to cut its deficit to 5-3. Scott got things going with a lead-off base on balls and then moved to third with sacrifice flies by Kellen Dewey and Priscilla Quintana. On a 3-2 count, Tesar drilled a double to right field to bring Scott home. Tesar was replaced by pinch-runner Andrea Sheppard-Kauwalu, who scored thanks to another hiccup by the Warrior third baseman. Amanda Walter grounded to short to end the rally.

Winona State got one of the runs back in its half of the third and tossed a three-spot on the board in the fourth frame to break the game open. The Cougars were held hitless the rest of the way and the Warriors tacked on two more in the bottom of the sixth to create the final margin.

Junior Amanda Walters (0-1) took the loss on the mound for the Cougars. Walters allowed nine runs (seven earned) on eight hits to go with five walks and a strikeout in 4.0 innings. Freshman Michelle Ritland threw 1.2 innings in relief, where she gave up two runs on four hits with a strikeout and two walks.

The Cougars are back in action at the NSIC/MIAA Crossover tournament tomorrow with a noon matchup against Northwest Missouri State.

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Players Mentioned

#18 Naomi Tesar: 2nd/SS/3rd; 5' 6"; Freshman

#2 Kellen Dewey: SS; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#13 Priscilla Quintana: 3B/C; 5' 3"; Junior

#9 Amanda Walters: P/UTL; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#17 Michelle Ritland: P; 6' 4"; Freshman

#19 Erin Scott: UTL; 5' 4"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#18 Naomi Tesar
: 5' 6"; Freshman
: 2nd/SS/3rd

#2 Kellen Dewey
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: SS

#13 Priscilla Quintana
: 5' 3"; Junior
: 3B/C

#9 Amanda Walters
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: P/UTL

#17 Michelle Ritland
: 6' 4"; Freshman
: P

#19 Erin Scott
: 5' 4"; Sophomore
: UTL