The Peacock softball team closed out the opening day of the 2011 Desert Stinger hosted by Montana State-Billings at Majestic Park in Las Vegas, Nevada by playing the Grizzlies of Adams State University.  Upper Iowa took the lead early and was poised to repeat the offensive output they used to win the first game of the afternoon, but the Grizzlies posted four runs in four consecutive innings to hand the Peacocks a 16-8 loss.

Trailing 4-0 in the bottom of the first, Upper Iowa plated five runs to take the lead, 5-4 early in the contest.  After Robin Schaefer scored an unearned run on an Adams State throwing error, senior first baseman Erin Bennek belted a shot down the left field line to bring in a pair of runs and make the score 5-3.  Bennek scored a few batters later when Trisha Hagensick was walked with the bases loaded and Chelsey Sechrest scored in the next at-bat as Ashley Brown grounded into a fielder’s choice.  In all, the Peacocks scored five runs with just two hits in the inning.

Adams State added four more runs in their half of the second to retake the lead, 8-5 before Upper Iowa tallied three runs of their own in the second to tie the game at 8.  Sumner, Iowa-native Kayla Bergman was hit by a pitch and Hannah Jones walked before Bennek knocked a triple to right center to score Bergman from second and start the Peacock scoring.  Jones was thrown out at home on the play.

Sechrest scored Bennek in the next at bat when she singled to left center, and Erin Van Praag plated Sechrest in her at bat when she knocked a single up the middle after the center fielder had stole second base.

Unfortunately for the Peacocks, the offensive production ended after the second inning and Adams State poured on the runs as the Grizzlies took the game, 16-8, in five innings.

Peacock starting pitcher, Sarah Dec, allowed 16 hits while striking out five batters.  Bennek led UIU with a three-for-four effort at the dish which included driving in three runs and scoring two of her own.  Both squads committed three errors.

The Peacocks will get back to action this evening with a pair of games under the lights.  At 7 p.m. central time, UIU will line up against New Mexico Highlands before battling Lewis University at 9:30 p.m.