Upper Iowa and Southwest Minnesota State split their double header today which included a 16-inning affair as the final game of the series. The Peacocks won the first game 8-5, but dropped the second contest 3-2 in extra innings. With the split, UIU moves to 17-16 overall and 11-9 in NSIC play.

 

Detailed recaps of the games can be found below.

 

Upper Iowa will return home for a pair of games against the Wildcats of Wayne State on Wednesday at Robertson Woods Field.  First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Fayette.

 

The Mustangs jumped out to an early 3-0 lead on three hits, a hit batsmen and an error in the bottom of the first, but the Peacocks slowly chipped away as the game moved into the middle innings.

 

Upper Iowa put two runs on the board in the second after back-to-back walks with two outs.  Luis Rodriguez hit a double to right field scoring both Mikey Henrichs and Rory Kolo.  The Peacocks tied the game in the fourth when Kolo singled to right to plate Henrichs, who singled to open the inning.  Later in the inning, UIU took the lead on a double steal with runners on the corners; Matt Corbitt stole home as Rodriguez was stealing second.

 

The home team rallied with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth to retake the lead, 5-4.  Southwest Minnesota State got a single and then with two outs drew back-to-back walks to load the bases.  A single into centerfield by Adam Thygesen pushed two runners home and gave the Mustangs the lead.

 

Upper Iowa wasted no time taking control back in the next half inning.  The Peacocks scored four runs in the sixth after loading the bases with no outs.  Rodriguez stepped in and delivered his third hit of the game; a bases-clearing double to right center.  After a sac bunt by Juve Reyes, Nick Bergeman plated Rodriguez for an 8-5 UIU lead.

 

 

Mario Madera came on to earn his third save with two scoreless innings to preserve the lead and help Eric Anderson to his first win of the season.  Anderson (1-2) threw five innings allowing five runs on six hits, while walking seven and striking out three Mustangs.  Madera allowed two hits while striking out one.

 

The middle of the Peacock lineup (Henrichs, Kolo, Corbitt and Rodriguez) combined to go 7 for 11 with 6 rbi and scored all 8 of UIU’s runs.

 

 

The Peacocks opened the scoring in game two in the third when Pat Arntson hit a sacrifice fly to center plating Bergeman, who reached earlier in the inning on a throwing error.  UIU held the lead until the fourth when the Mustangs tied the game thanks to a leadoff triple and a sac fly of their own. 

 

Corbitt and Rodriguez led off the seventh with a pair of singles and advanced to second and third after William Loza laid down a sacrifice bunt.  Unfortunately, the Mustangs forced a ground out and a strike out to end the Peacock threat.

 

The Mustangs loaded the bases with one out, but a ground out and a strike out also ended their momentum in the seventh and the game moved on still tied at one.

 

UIU scored a go-ahead run in the top of the thirteenth after putting runners on the corners with one out. SMSU was called for a balk to force a runner home. The Mustangs equaled the Peacocks run in the thirteenth to push the game on tied at two.

 

The game ended in the sixteenth when a double down the leftfield line scored a runner from second and gave the home team their first win of the series.

 

Mario Madera (2-3) took the loss after throwing 5.1 innings in relief and allowing 2 runs on 8 hits. Matt Treybig earned a no-decision for the visitors after throwing 10 innings and allowing one run on four hits while striking out 11 batters.

 

Rudy Casillas had four hits in the game, while Corbitt and Rodriguez each tallied three hits.