WINONA, Minn. – A pair of home runs helped the No. 19 Winona State softball team hold off a late Augustana rally as the Warriors split its doubleheader with the No. 13 Vikings Wednesday in Winona. The Warriors dropped game one 5-0 before earning a hard fought 6-5 win in game two.

Jessica Kullmann and Natalie Kalmes both homered in game two, leading the Warriors to their third victory over a ranked opponent this season.
The Warriors struck right away in game two, with Mary Turitto hitting a run-scoring single to plate Ashley Walker in the bottom of the first. Kullmann added to the WSU lead in the second, leading off the frame with her first home run of the season to put the team up 2-0.

WSU added three runs in the third to open a 5-2 advantage, highlighted by Kalmes' two-run homer. Morgan Lintz led off the inning with a double and Turitto added a single to put two runners on with no outs. Kullmann recorded an RBI groundout before Kalmes launched her first home run of the season over the fence in right-center.

Augustana pulled to within one, 5-4, after scoring twice in the fifth, but Winona State was able to score another run in the bottom half of the inning as Jenny Nelson hit a sacrifice fly that plated Kalmes.

The Warriors' insurance run would prove to be extremely important as the Vikings' Caitlin Nichol led off the top of the seventh with a solo home run, cutting the WSU advantage to one, 6-5. WSU pitcher Hanna Lythberg hit the next Augustana batter but a double play ended the Viking threat and sent WSU home with a win.

Lythberg won for the tenth time in 11 decisions this season, throwing a complete game while striking out two.

Reed Karsten batted in the leadoff spot for the Warriors in the nightcap, going 3-for-4 while Lintz, Turitto and Shannon Nelson each added two hits.
Augustana put the first runs of game one on the board in the third inning, scoring on a passed ball and an RBI base hit. The Vikings added three more runs in the sixth on a home run by Jordan Schaffer to reach the final 5-0 score.

The Warriors had chances to plate runs of their own, collecting eight hits and drawing three walks in the doubleheader's opener. Walker and Allyson O'Herron each recorded a pair of hits while Karsten doubled to lead Winona State offensively.

Winona State (20-4 overall, 3-1 NSIC) will return to action this weekend, traveling for conference matchups against Minot State on Saturday and U-Mary Sunday.