The Upper Iowa Peacocks took on the Hawks of Quincy University in a nine-inning, non-conference contest today at Robertson Woods Field in Fayette today. The Hawks came into the contest ranked #6 in the latest NCAA Midwest Region and in first place in the West Division of the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

 

The Peacocks got on board first in the bottom of the second after Matt Smoley led the inning off with a double down the left field line. Matt Corbitt pushed the runner home with a sac fly to right field for a 1-0 UIU lead.

 

Quincy bounced back with a run in the third and one in the fourth to take a 2-1 lead; both runs scored on sacrifice flies. Quincy maintained their one-run lead until the eighth inning when they pushed two more runs across and then added three more in the ninth on a three-run homer to left by Mitchell Broughton. Upper Iowa had opportunities to score in the contest, but the Peacocks stranded nine runners on the base paths.

 

The Peacocks (17-23, 11-15 NSIC) got good pitching from a number of young men as Head Coach Mark Danker pushed through his bullpen. Brett Westra, Josh Luke and Tyler Beck all threw without giving up a run while Cole Hanson allowed an unearned run and Kyle MacDonald also saw a Hawk cross the plate on his watch. Mario Madera gave up two runs and Trey Cook allowed three on the homerun.

 

At the plate, UIU was led by Smoley, who went 3 for 4 at the plate. Five other Peacocks tallied one hit for the day. 

 

Upper Iowa will face off against the Marauders of U-Mary in a four-game series this Saturday and Sunday in the final games of the season at Robertson Woods Field. The home games will be the final contests in Fayette for five seniors; Nick Bergeman, Brett Cleveringa, Josh McKeon, Luis Rodriguez and Kody McCauley.