Box Score

WINONA, Minn. – Winona State hurler Stacey Struzynski fanned seven batters and held Southwest Minnesota State to three hits to lead her Warriors to a 3-1 victory over the Mustangs in the opening round of the NCAA Central Region Tournament Friday afternoon in Winona, Minn.

WSU improves to 45-11, while SMSU drops to 32-22.  The Mustangs will play Minnesota State in an elimination game tomorrow at 3:30 p.m.  If SMSU wins, it will play again at 6 p.m. versus either Winona State or Wayne State.  The tournament is double-elimination format.

Struzynski went a complete game in the circle for WSU to improve to 23-5. 

SMSU countered with Amanda Johnson, who also went a complete game and allowed seven hits.  She struck out four in the loss, which moves her to 20-11 on the season.

SMSU's Amanda Tucci opened up a scoreless contest in the top the second inning when she crushed a solo home run--her 11th of the season--to center field.  It was SMSU's first hit of the game.

WSU's Amanda Wilhelm evened the game when she doubled to center field to score Terra Halron from first base in the bottom of the third inning.

SMSU had a chance to break the 1-1 tie in the top of the fourth inning, but with bases loaded, Andrea Fennern went down swinging to keep the two squads stalemated.

The Warriors took care of  ridding the game of the 1-1 tie as Wilhelm launched a two-run homer to right field to put WSU on top 3-1 as the fifth inning came to a close.

SMSU's offense failed to exist late in the game as the Mustangs were retired in order in the final three innings of play.

Amanda Burkhart, Christine Borowiak and Tucci accounted for SMSU's three lone hits.

Halron finished 2 for 3 at the plate for WSU.

This was the fifth meeting between the two programs this season and third in the last week.  The Warriors have won four of the last five contests.