Box Score

MANKATO, Minn. – Kodey Simon threw a complete game four-hitter as the Winona State baseball team beat Wayne State 2-1 in the opening round of the NSIC Tournament Wednesday in Mankato.

Simon allowed one run, scattered four hits and struck out eight while picking up the victory. He allowed two hits in the fifth and a single hit in the second and sixth while moving his record to 7-4 on the season. Simon’s start tied WSU’s all-time record for appearances as a pitcher.

Lucas Warren put the Warriors on the board in the top of the fourth, blasting a two-run home run over the fence in right field. Derek Wojcik had singled to put a runner on base for the Warriors with one out, setting up Warren’s second homer of the season and giving 2-0 WSU lead.

The two-run bomb would prove to be all the run support Simon would need. Simon’s eight strikeouts were a season-high for the senior. This was Simon’s sixth start of the season where he went at least six innings and allowed two or fewer earned runs.

Wayne State scored in the bottom of the fifth on a pair of singles to draw within a run, 2-1. Both teams had chances to score going forward, with the Wildcats stranding a runner on third in the bottom of the sixth and the Warriors doing the same in the top of the seventh.

The Wildcats threatened again in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases on an error, walk and hit batter. Simon got out of the inning, striking out Kevin Anderson and getting Justin Beranek to line out to Seth McMullen at shortstop.

Winona State had eight hits on the game, with Wojcek leading the way with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate.

The Warriors advance to play second seed St. Cloud State at 7 pm Thursday. WSU is now 29-18 on the season and will have a chance to win 30 games in three consecutive seasons against the Huskies.