UNK Baseball: Winona Silences Loper Bats Again, Goes to Series

Courtesy Peter Yazvac, UNK sports information director

Kearney, Neb. – Winona State ace Kodey Simon gave up five hits over seven innings to lead the Warriors to a 3-1 victory over Nebraska-Kearney Monday morning in the Central Regional title game in St. Cloud, Minn.

WSU (39-17) advances to the 2011 Division II World Series this weekend in Cary, N.C. UNK ends the year at 38-19 with the win total being a new school-record.  Winona handed the Lopers its other lost of this regional, a 2-0 decision on Sunday.

Simon, a junior right hander, had four days rest after tossing a complete game eight-hitter in a first round win over Mesa State last Thursday. Improving to 7-2 on the season, Simon was named Tournament MVP as he gave up just two earned runs in 16 innings.

UNK started RMAC Pitcher of the Year Todd Stachura (8-2). The Scotia native was coming off two days rest as he pitched in the twice rain delayed 10-4 win over WSU on Sunday.  Stachura went 7.1 innings, allowing three earned on eight hits and two walks with no K’s.

The Warriors scored runs in the second and fifth innings thanks to RBI singles. The damage could’ve been worse in the second but Stachura got a fly out and fielder’s choice to get out of a bases loaded situation.

However, the Lopers didn’t capitalize as they hit into inning ending double plays in the second and third innings with runners at first and second both times.

After being shut out 14 straight innings by Warrior pitching, UNK cut the lead in half when senior 1b Andrew Haake (Beatrice) laced a two-out single to right center in the sixth to bring home senior 2b Jordan Mitchelhill (Australia), who reached via double

Winona got that run back in the eighth when DH Cody Strang (2 for 4, two RBI’s) greeted Loper closer Jake Kresse (Bennington H.S.) with a one out, RBI single up the middle. Kresse did get the next Warrior to hit into a 4-6-3 double play. .

WSU went to its bullpen in the eighth and ninth innings as Tony Mueller picked up his second save, allowing only a two out bloop single in the eighth.

Making the all-tournament team from UNK was senior CF Jason Trulin (Blair), senior 3b Luke Valerius (Lakwood, Colo.) and Mitchelhill.