The Upper Iowa softball team opened a stretch of eight consecutive road contests Saturday afternoon by making the short trip to Winona, Minn. to battle the #8-ranked Warriors of Winona State University.  Winona State swept the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader by scores of 10-2, in six innings, and 5-0.

The Peacocks struck first in game one by plating two runs in the top half of the first inning.  With Robin Schaefer on base, senior shortstop Erin Bennek blasted a home run down the left field line to give UIU the early 2-0 lead.

However, WSU wasted no time in taking control of the contest as the home team scored three runs in the first and one in the second to hold a two-run advantage over Upper Iowa.  The Warriors then added three runs in the fourth, one in the fifth and two more in the sixth inning to end the game, 10-2.

Bennek tallied two of UIU’s four hits while Winona State scored their ten runs on 11 hits.

Game two remained fairly quiet until Winona State pushed two runs across in the bottom of the third while scoring three more in the fifth as the home team completed the sweep of Upper Iowa, 5-0.

Right-handed pitcher Brooklyn Koranda gave up seven hits while striking out six Warrior batters.

With the losses, UIU drops to 5-26 overall and 1-7 in NSIC play while Winona State improves to 22-3 overall and 6-0 in league contests.

Upper Iowa will return to action this Wednesday, April 13 when they travel to St. Cloud, Minn. to line up against the Huskies of St. Cloud State.  The NSIC twin bill is slated for a 2 p.m. start.