No. 3 East softball falls to No. 2 Winona in key conference game

No. 3-ranked Mankato East’s inability to get timely hits proved costly Thursday as No. 2 Winona gained a 4-3 victory in a Big Nine Conference showdown at Thomas Park. East (5-2, 4-1 in Big Nine) managed only five hits — with two coming on bunts — off Winhawks’ senior right-hander Lauren Kreckow while stranding eight runners on base. Kreckow struck out four, walked two and hit a batter, while Cougars’ ace Kylin Stangl fanned six and walked two in losing a six-hitter. “We’ve got to move the ball better than we did today,” East coach Joe Madson said. “I thought...