EDMOND, Okla. – The Winona State softball team mounted a late rally, scoring twice in the top of the seventh and seeing the potential tying run come to the plate, but fell to Central Oklahoma 5-2 in the opening game of the NCAA Division II Super Regional Championship Friday night in Edmond, Okla.

Box Score

Trailing 5-0 entering the final inning, Jenny Nelson led of the frame with a solo home run to center field to put the Warriors on the board and start the team’s charge.

Kaitlin Hardie and Jordan Petersen both singled to put a pair of runners on base for WSU and continue the charge. Brooke Piotrowski followed with a third consecutive single and Hardie came in to score on an error by the UCO centerfielder to make the score 5-2. The rally ended there, with Reed Karsten and Ashley Walker both recording outs.

Game two of the Super Regional will be played at 2 pm on Saturday with a third game to follow immediately after, if necessary.

Central Oklahoma took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, getting a solo home run to center field by Nicole Workman.

The Warriors had a chance to score in the top of the third, with Hardie and Piotrowski notching singles to put runners on the corners with two outs before Karsten flew out to left field to end the WSU threat.

UCO added three runs in the bottom of the third, moving its lead to 4-0. A pair of doubles in the bottom of the fifth by Ally Dziadula and Kacie Edwards stretched the Central Oklahoma advantage to 5-0.

The Warriors broke up UCO pitcher Kalynn Schrock’s shutout bid in the seventh, with the pitcher allowing a pair of runs on seven hits during the game. Walker earned the start for WSU, allowing eight hits and five runs.

Piotrowski and Hardie led Winona State with two hits each, while Walker, Nelson and Petersen also collected hits in the game.

Winona State is now 37-13 on the season.