The Peacock baseball team opened their play in the 2011 Clearwater Baseball Tournament in Clearwater, Florida this afternoon. Upper Iowa had everything going their way through the first seven innings, but East Stroudsburg rallied for seven runs in the final two innings to post a 9-5 victory over the Peacocks (1-4).

 

UIU and ESU both scored a run in the third inning and the Peacocks fell behind 2-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh, but the UIU bats came through with four runs to take a 5-2 lead into the final two frames, but East Stroudsburg scored a pair of runs in the eighth and then completed their rally with five in the ninth to steal the win.

 

Rudy Casillas drove in UIU’s first run with a sac fly to score Mikey Henrichs in the third. In UIU’s big seventh inning, Nick Bergeman hit a three-run homer to plate Luis Rodriguez and Taylor Brecht with one out. An infield error gave UIU their fourth run of the inning when Casillas came home.

 

The Warriors used three hits to score two runs in the eighth and climb back within one, 5-4. The inning ended when an ESU runner was cut down at the plate on an assist from right fielder Eric Anderson. In the ninth, East Stroudsburg scored their five runs on four hits and even left the bases loaded. The inning started when Josh Luke struck out the first batter, but the pitch was dropped and the Warriors had their leadoff man on. ESU sent 11 men to the plate in the inning that was highlighted by four singles and three walks.

 

Casillas (3 hits) and Bergeman (2 hits) were busy at the top of the Peacock lineup but the middle of the order combined for one hit in 17 at bats from the third spot in the lineup to the seventh spot.

 

Josh McKeon earned his second no-decision of the season after throwing 7 innings and allowing two runs on 6 hits while striking out 12 Warriors. Trey Cook threw one inning and allowed two runs on three hits, while Luke threw the ninth and surrendered five runs, two earned, on four hits.

 

The Peacocks will line up with Lockhaven tomorrow afternoon at 12:30 in Clearwater.