Winona State posted a pair of one-run victories over Wayne State in Northern Sun Conference softball Saturday afternoon in Winona, Minnesota by scores of 6-5 and 2-1.  The host Warriors are now 38-13 and 19-7 in the league while WSC drops to 29-22 and 13-12 in NSIC contests.
            The opener saw Winona State rally for two runs in the bottom of the seventh to hand the 'Cats a heart-breaking 6-5 loss.
            Winona State jumped out early to a 3-0 lead in the first with WSC getting on the board in the third inning on a Kennadi Borngrebe RBI single driving home Leah Chance (singled) to cut the Warrior lead to 3-1.
            After the host Warriors added another run in the fourth for a 4-1 advantage, WSC gained momentum in the sixth inning scoring four times on three hits and a Winona State error to grab a 5-4 lead.  Hayley Murphy's three-run homer was the key hit in the inning while the other run scored when Taylor Coleman singled and scored on a Warrior error.
            But Winona State rallied in the seventh scoring two runs on three hits and one WSC error to post the 6-5 win.
            Wayne State held an 11-8 edge in hits in the contest.  Emilee Marth was 3 for 3, all singles, while Murphy was 2 for 3 with a homer and three RBI.  Chance also had two hits for WSC in three at bats. 
            Borngrebe (13-8) was tagged with the pitching loss, charged with six runs on seven hits while recording eight strikeouts and five walks.  Reliever Samantha Felt also worked in relief in the seventh inning.
            The second game featured a pitcher's duel between Wayne State's Taylor Coleman and Winona's Izzy Howe as the host Warriors held off a sixth inning rally by the Wildcats for a 2-1 victory.
            Winona State scored single runs in the second and fifth innings for a 2-0 lead.
            The Wildcats produced their run in the sixth inning as Marth opened the frame with a double and later scored on a Maddie Scobee single to cut the Warrior lead to 2-1.  But WSC could not get another base runner in the inning and the Warriors held on for the one-run win.
            WSC held a 5-4 advantage in hits as Marth finished 2 for 3 with a double to lead the "Cats.  Jordyn Klein, Scobee and Taylor Fritz each added singles.
            Coleman was the hard-luck loser in the contest for the Wildcats in the circle despite firing a complete game.  She allowed just four hits and two runs (one earned) with four strikeouts and two walks.
            The Wildcats conclude the regular season Sunday with a doubleheader at Concordia-St. Paul starting at 12 p.m.