Box Score vs. #24 Mesa State
Box Score vs. Nebraska-Kearney
Box Score vs. Adams State
The Upper Iowa Softball team opened the NSIC/RMAC Crossover this morning in Rochester, Minn. with two wins. The first over #24-ranked Mesa State 8-6 at 8 a.m. and the second coming over Nebraska-Kearney, 4-0 at 10 a.m. In their afternoon contest, the Peacocks faced Adams State in an early-season rematch from the Desert Stinger Classic. ASC came out on top 7-2.
Peacocks 8 - #24 Mesa State 6
Upper Iowa took an 8-1 lead into the final inning and held on despite a furious Mavs rally to post an 8-6 win over the #24 team in the country this morning.
The Peacocks scored a pair of runs in the first thanks to two-run double by Chelsey Sechrest. Mesa State scored one in the third inning, but Upper Iowa got it right back in the bottom of the inning as they put three runs across the plate fueled by four hits and two Mavs errors. Erin Bennek, Sechrest and Erin Van Praag all singled to push Peacocks home.
UIU added to their 5-1 advantage with runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth. Kayla Bergman and Robin Schaefer picked up rbi's in the middle innings.
Mesa State led the seventh inning off with a homerun and added four more runs thanks to three more hits and two Peacock errors. The final out came just in time as Upper Iowa was able to strand two runners on base and preserve the victory.
Sarah Dec earned the victory throwing 6.1 innings and allowing 6 runs, only 3 of which were earned, on 7 hits. Dec struck out three batters. Asley Brown earned the save after closing out the final two-thirds of an innings allowing one hit while striking out one batter.
At the plate, UIU tallied 11 hits led by Sechrest (2) and Schaefer (2).
Peacocks 4 - Nebraska-Kearney 0
Upper Iowa continued to swing a hot bat in the second game against the Lopers. The Peacocks racked up 12 hits including three from Bennek and a pair of hits each from Schaefer, Van Praag and Adrienna Olson.
Brown stayed on the mound for UIU after closing the first game as she scattered 5 hits over 6.1 innings without allowing a run to earn the win. Brooklyn Koranda closed out the final two outs to preserve the shutout 4-0.
The Peacocks scored in the first on a Bennek single and then added a run in the second on a Trisha Hagensick bomb to left centerfield. Upper Iowa's final two runs came in the top of the seventh and provided the team with a four-run cushion. Hannah Jones homered to right field to leadoff the inning and Brown reached on a fielder's choice that pushed Bennek across the plate.
Adams State 7 - Upper Iowa 2
The Peacocks held a 2-0 lead heading into the fifth inning as they looked for a perfect 3-0 record on the day, but the Grizzlies rallied with seven runs in the inning to take the lead and eventual win 7-2.
Bennek got her fifth hit of the game leading off the second inning with a homerun to left center to put Upper Iowa on the board first. The Peacock senior scored the second run as well after reaching on a single to left in the fourth; she was plated by a Van Praag sac fly to right center.
Adams State rallied in the top of the fifth with seven runs on four hits and one Peacock error that opened the inning. The Grizzlies inning was highlighted by a double to left center that cleared the bases to score three runs. All the runs in the inning were unearned as the error was followed by two sacrifice bunts that put a runner on third with two outs.
The Peacocks went quietly in their final three innings rapping out only 2 hits in their final 11 at bats.
Bennek and Sechrest each had a pair of hits, but Brown was the only other player to reach base thanks to a hit.
Koranda took the loss after throwing 4.2 innings and allowing 6 runs, none of which were earned, on 7 hits. Brown threw the final 2.1 innings allowing a pair of hits and one unearned run.
The Peacocks (3-5) will play their final game of the NSIC/RMAC Crossover tomorrow morning at 8 a.m.
