The Upper Iowa softball team continued the non-conference portion of the 2011 season Friday afternoon when they travelled to Pittsburg, Kansas for a pair of games with the Gorillas of Pittsburg State. Pittsburg State swept the doubleheader as they defeated UIU 8-0 in game one and 4-3 in the second half of the twinbill.

Solid pitching from Gorilla hurler Tiffany Brown kept Upper Iowa from getting much of anything going offensively. The Peacocks only managed three hits during the first game and committed three fielding errors as the home team took the opener, 8-0 in five innings.

In game two, UIU found themselves down one run before plating two in the top half of the fourth inning to take their first lead of the afternoon, 2-1. With runners on second and third, Erica Maisto reached on an error by the Pittsburg State third baseman allowing Laura Tackenberg to score from third and Chelsey Sechrest to come home from second to give UIU the slim lead.

The home team scored three runs in their half of the fourth to retake the lead, 4-2, and while UIU would add a run in the top of the fifth, the guests would fall just short as they lost 4-3.

Seniors Hannah Jones and Erin Bennek notched two hits each for UIU game two while Peacock newcomer, Sarah Dec, struck out five Gorilla batters. With the loss, UIU falls to 4-11 in 2011 while Pittsburg State improves to 4-7 early in the season.

The Peacocks make the short drive to Joplin, Missouri for another non-conference doubleheader with Missouri Southern State tomorrow afternoon. The first pitch is set to be tossed at noon.