March 19, 2008
Box Score
The Peacock baseball team squared off against NSIC foe Concordia-St. Paul this morning at the HHH Metrodome to open the conference season for the 2008 baseball campaign. In game one, the Peacocks were behind 5-0 going into the final frame, then rallied to post four runs in the top of the seventh. The rally wasn't enough as Concordia won the first game, 5-4. In game two, Marshall Rogne and Brian Putnam combined for a great seven innings on the mound, while the Peacock bats scratched out two runs for the victory, 2-1.
Concordia started the first game hot, posting four runs on seven hits in the first three innings. The Golden Bears added another run in the fifth inning to widen the margin to 5-0.
Concordia pitcher, Jake Schmitt, held a no-hitter into the sixth when Peacock center fielder Kreston Albright singled to the shortstop. The Peacocks couldn't capitalize on their second baserunner of the game, and took a 5-0 deficit into the seventh.
In the seventh, Peacock right fielder Marcus Thompson started the inning with a double to the center fielder. After a T.J. Johnson single, Thompson became Upper Iowa's first run of the game off of Lucas Wilsing's sacrifice fly to center field. Wilsing's shot was caught by a diving Golden Bear; had it dropped the Peacocks could have had the home team in a heap of trouble. With two outs, catcher Ryan Arp knocked a two-run home run to left field to pull the Peacocks within two, 5-3.
With the Golden Bears pitcher rattled, Eric Sorensen walked, and later scored off of a fielding error when Seth Fox hit to center field. With Fox in scoring position, UIU's final out came on a strike out to end the rally at 5-4.
Pitcher Brian Solemsaas was charged with the loss for Upper Iowa, pitching six innings, giving up all five runs, four earned, off nine hits and three walks. With the loss, Solemsaas falls to 1-3 on the season.
In game two of the doubleheader, the Peacocks fell behind 1-0 in the fourth before posting two runs of their own in the sixth to take the game, 2-1.
After five uneventful innings for Upper Iowa, second baseman Seth Fox opened the inning with an infield single to the third baseman. Albright then singled up the middle, and after a Golden Bear wild pitch, the Peacocks had two runners in scoring position with no outs.
Nick Fjelland then walked to load the bases and Marcus Thompson singled up the middle to score Fox and Albright and give the Peacocks a 2-1 lead. The Peacocks failed to post anymore runs in the inning, leaving a pair on the base paths.
Upper Iowa held off Concordia over the final two innings to hang on for the 2-1 victory and the first conference win of the season. Starting pitcher Marshall Rogne threw four innings, giving up just one run off of two hits and surrendering two walks for the no-decision. Brian Putnam collected the win over the final three innings, giving up just one hit while striking out two.
The split moves Upper Iowa's record to 3-13 overall and 1-1 in the conference. The two teams will be back on the field in the Metrodome tomorrow afternoon for another double header beginning at 2 p.m.
