The Winona State University baseball team heads to St. Paul, Minnesota, on Tuesday, March 31, for a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) doubleheader against Concordia-St. Paul. The Warriors (11-14, 6-6 NSIC) are looking to rebound from a recent series loss, while the Golden Bears (10-17, 5-10 NSIC) are hoping to break a seven-game losing streak. This WSU baseball matchup offers a chance for both teams to gain ground in the competitive NSIC standings.
Last year’s contests between Winona State and Concordia-St. Paul were closely fought, with each team securing a victory. The Warriors took the second game of the twin bill 14-10, according to the Winona State Athletics website. This history suggests a potentially tight series this time around, as both programs aim to establish dominance in their head-to-head rivalry.
Warriors Seek to Regain Momentum
Winona State is coming off a series defeat against the UMary Marauders at Loughrey Field. Despite the setback, the Warriors remain a team to watch in the NSIC, currently ranked 10th in the conference’s preseason coaches’ poll. Head Coach Seth Wing is in his fourth season leading the program, boasting a 78-98 overall record with WSU and a 14-year career as an NCAA baseball coach.
Offensively, the Warriors are led by Easton Arendt, who is batting .320 (24-for-75) with a .452 on-base percentage, and has started in all 24 games. Adam Wall provides power in the lineup, leading the team with 18 RBIs and four home runs, adding 20 hits to his season total. As a team, Winona State maintains a .255 batting average and a .367 on-base percentage through 25 games played.
On the mound, Sawyer Hoffman (2-2) currently leads the pitching staff with a 4.80 ERA across 30 innings pitched. Hunter Guenther (2-2) has been a strikeout threat, leading the team with 36 strikeouts and delivering a strong 6.0-inning performance allowing only one earned run in a recent 7-6 extra-inning win over UMary. The Warriors’ pitching staff collectively holds a 5.31 ERA with 192 strikeouts in 195.0 innings.
Golden Bears Aim to Snap Losing Streak
Concordia-St. Paul enters Tuesday’s doubleheader on a challenging stretch, having lost their last seven games, including a three-game sweep at the hands of Minnesota State. Despite the recent struggles, the Golden Bears were ranked 11th in the NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, indicating a level of respect from their conference peers.
Charlie Harms is the offensive catalyst for Concordia-St. Paul, boasting a .361 batting average and a .479 on-base percentage with 35 hits in 27 starts. The Golden Bears as a team have a .272 batting average and a .392 on-base percentage. Though, their pitching staff has faced challenges, posting a 6.66 ERA while allowing opponents to hit .286.
Ollie Yuhas (2-3) leads the Golden Bears’ pitching staff with a 5.40 ERA in a team-high 30 innings, recording 16 strikeouts. The CSP pitching staff has allowed 239 hits and recorded 183 strikeouts in 213.2 innings of work.
Looking Ahead
Following the twin bill against Concordia-St. Paul, Winona State is scheduled to face Jamestown in a three-game series later in the week. Concordia-St. Paul will then host the Sioux Falls Cougars for a three-game series beginning on Friday, April 3.
Both teams will be looking to use these upcoming series to build momentum as the NSIC season progresses. The Warriors and Golden Bears will undoubtedly be aiming to improve their standings and position themselves for a strong finish.
Fans can find updated schedules, scores, and team information on the official Winona State Warriors Athletics website: https://winonastatewarriors.com/sports/baseball and the Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears Athletics website: https://cspbears.com/sports/baseball.
We encourage readers to share their thoughts on the upcoming games and the NSIC baseball season in the comments below.
