The Peacock softball team capped off their weekend on Saturday afternoon by visiting Joplin, Missouri for a non-conference doubleheader with the Lions of Missouri Southern State. The home team won a low-scoring game one, 3-1, before completing the sweep of UIU in the second game, 8-7.

Upper Iowa's offense started off slow in game one as the Peacocks only managed two hits throughout the seven inning affair. The first UIU hit came in the top of the fifth inning when first baseman Ashley Brown homered to left field for UIU's only run of the game as they fell, 3-1.

Norridge, Ill-native Sarah Dec gave up eight hits in six full innings of work while striking out two Lion batters.

The lack of offense from the first game didn't carry over into game two as UIU tallied 12 total hits but fell in the late stages of the game, 8-7. Adrienna Olson and Trisha Hagensick led UIU with three hits each while leadoff hitter Hannah Jones went two-for-three at the plate. All three scored runs for UIU while Hagensick drove in two of the three runs scored in the first inning.

Upper Iowa took an early lead with Hagensick's two-rbi single in the first, but found themselves trailing quickly when Missouri Southern State plated three runs in the first and another two in the second to lead 5-3. The home team extended their lead with two more runs in the fourth before UIU tied the game, 7-7, with four runs on four hits in the top of the sixth.

The Lions scored what became the winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the matchup, 8-7.

With the losses, UIU fell to 4-13 early in the 2011 season while Missouri Southern State improved to 11-7 overall.

The Peacocks will return to the bubble in Rochester, Minnesota this coming Saturday and Sunday to play four non-conference games against NSIC opponents. Saturday's game against the Mavericks of Minnesota State is set for a noon start before UIU lines up against the Warriors of Winona State at 4 p.m. On Sunday, UIU plays Minnesota State at 10 a.m. and Winona State at noon.