April 19, 2008
UIU-BSU Box Score | UIU-NSU Box Score | UIU-U-Mary Box Score| UIU-UM, Crookston Box Score | UIU-MSU Moorhead Box Score
The Upper Iowa softball team was back in action for their second NSIC crossover weekend of the season. The Peacocks traveled to Bismarck, ND for five crucial conference games including three on Saturday and two on Sunday. The Peacocks started the weekend in great fashion by posting a win over Bemidji State (3-1), but then dropped an extra inning game to Northern State (5-4). UIU picked up a win in its final game on day one over U-Mary (2-1). On day two, the Peacocks split their final two games of the crossover. UIU lost to UM, Crookston (1-0), but rallied to defeat MSU Moorhead (3-0) in 8 innings.
Against Bemidji State, Upper Iowa posted the first run of the game in the top half of the third inning off the bat of Kami Appelt. She doubled to right center to drive in Danielle DeSerano with two outs to give the Peacocks a 1-0 lead. After posting another goose egg in Bemidji's bottom half of the third, the Peacocks quickly added more run support thanks to an Erin Bennek two-run homerun to leftfield. Meredith Ang led off the inning with a single to left before Bennek blasted one over the fence.
Although Bemidji State was able to post a run in the fifth inning, Upper Iowa was able to hold off the Beavers and take the game by a final score of 3-1. Peacock pitcher Nikki Davis had a stellar performance as she went the distance for the Peacocks surrendering just one earned run on seven hits while striking out eight.
Appelt, Davis and Ang each went two-for-four at the plate for the Peacocks, while four other Peacock hitters tallied a hit including Bennek's long ball.
In the Peacocks' second game, the Wolves struck first in the bottom of the third posting one run on two hits. The Peacocks were able tie the score at one apiece thanks to an Appelt leadoff homerun in the fourth inning. Northern State retook the lead in the bottom half of the inning by scoring two runs on two hits to bring the score back in their favor, 3-1.
Upper Iowa rallied as Jacqueline Greco led off the inning with a walk and a stolen base. After advancing to third on a DeSerano single, Stephany Daubenspeck smacked a two-run triple to center and tied the score, 3-3. Davis later singled to right to score Daubenspeck and Upper Iowa took a 4-3 lead.
Unfortunately, the Wolves tied the game again at 4-4 with a lead-off homerun in the fifth inning. The game was decided in extra frames as both teams failed to score in the final three innings of play. Northern State eventually put the game-winning run on the board in the bottom of ninth inning on a two out, bases loaded single that handed UIU the loss, 5-4.
Davis and Appelt both had two hits and an rbi for Upper Iowa. Five Peacocks including DeSerano, Ang, Bennek, Greco and Daubenspeck rapped out hits in the game.
Christy Loan went 5 innings giving up four runs, two of which were earned, on five hits. Davis came in and threw 3.2 innings giving up only one unearned run but took the loss to move her season record to 6-7.
Upper Iowa's third game was against the University of Mary. Davis was the key in the 2-1 victory as she threw a complete game allowing one unearned run on two hits while striking out three.
Both of the Peacocks' runs came in the fifth inning. Stefani Schulte started the scoring with a single. Julie Woolf came in to run for Schulte. Greco bunted Woolf to second base. Woolf then advanced to third on a Jessie Gress single. With runners on the corners, Gress stole second to give UIU two runners in scoring position. DeSerano reached on a fielder's choice as Woolf was thrown out at home. Daubenspeck came up with runners on the corners and slapped a single to drive in Gress from third and the speedy DeSerano from first.
The Marauders were able to notch one run in the sixth inning, but were unable to put any more runs on the board. Upper Iowa put together six hits in the game, including hits by DeSerano, Davis, Bennek, Schulte, Gress, and Daubenspeck, who drove in both of the Peacock runs.
The Peacocks were unable to carry any momentum from their final game on Saturday into their first game on Sunday. The Peacocks squared up against the Golden Eagles of Minnesota, Crookston.
Upper Iowa could not get the bats going all game which spoiled an impressive pitching performance by Nicole Forristall. She threw a complete game allowing just one run on three hits while striking out three. Minnesota, Crookston put the only run of the game on the board in the fifth inning.
Bennek and DeSerano both notched two hits, while Davis had one hit.
Upper Iowa ended their NSIC Crossover weekend with a 3-0 victory over the Dragons of Minnesota State Moorhead. The game proved to be a pitcher's dual as neither team were able to post any runs on the board during the scheduled seven innings of play.
In the eighth inning, Upper Iowa quickly tallied the first run of the game on a Jackie Greco lead-off homerun. The Peacocks took advantage of the momentum and added two more runs on a DeSerano rbi-double and a Davis single with two outs to register a 3-0 lead. The Dragons were able to bring the tying run to the plate, but Davis shut the door as she struck out the last two batters and ended the game for a 3-0 Peacock victory.
Davis posted another solid performance on the rubber for the Peacocks as she threw another complete game shutout giving up only two hits while striking out six Dragon batters.
DeSerano led the Peacocks in the hit category as she went two-for-four including an rbi and a run scored. Bennek, Gress, Davis and Greco each had one hit for the Peacocks. Davis and Greco had the other rbi's in the game.
