Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

 
The Peacocks split with the Golden Bears of Concordia University, St. Paul Wednesday afternoon in Fayette.  Upper Iowa dropped game one, 6-2, but rallied to claim the second game by a 3-2 score.  The split pushed UIU’s record to  11-20 overall and kept the Peacocks at .500 in the league, 3-3.
 
Game One Recap
 
After the Golden Bears took a 1-0 lead out of the top of the first thanks to a leadoff homer, the Peacocks answered with a pair of unearned runs with two outs in the bottom of the inning.  Katie Mnichowicz singled to open and stole second with two outs.  After a walk to Kylee Knop, a miscue by the CU defense on a routine grounder to second allowed the first run to score from second and a single by Erin Van Praag pushed the home team into the lead, 2-1.
 
A second solo blast by Concordia, a no-doubter to left by Erin Tjornhom, tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the third.  The visitors then broke the tie in the after the leadoff hitter reached thanks to an error and came around to score giving the visitors a 3-2 lead.  CU broke the game open in the top of the seventh with three runs on three hits and a second UIU error.
 
Ashley Kluever (8-4) picked up the win, 6-2, with a complete game allowing just two unearned runs on four hits while striking out a pair of Peacocks.
 
UIU’s Jenna Hermsen (0-6) took the loss with 3.1 innings in relief allowing four runs, two of which were earned, on six hits.  Bailee Haberman  earned a no-decision with 3.2 innings allowing two runs on four hits while striking out three.
 
Game Two Recap
 
Upper Iowa put a run on the board in the first and second innings staking their starter Knop to an early 2-0 lead.  The run in the first came after a pair of walks to Mnichowicz and Missy Olson.  A grounder allowed the runners to advance and Knop picked up an rbi on a slow roller to second.  In the second, Rachael Anello doubled to left center with one out and scored when a bunt single by Whitney Williams was thrown away as she was crossing first base.
 
The Golden Bears tied the game in the top of the fifth with two outs.  Katie Anderson hit her second homerun of the day and then Concordia used an infield single and a double to left center to knot the score at 2-2.
 
With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the fifth, Haning reached on a fielder’s choice plating Mnichowicz to break the tie and put UIU up 3-2.
 
A walk, error and intentional walk allowed the Golden Bears to load the bases with two outs in the seventh, but Anello gloved a hard grounder to first and stepped on the bag for the final out giving UIU a 3-2 win.
 
Knop (6-10) earned the complete game victory allowing two runs on five hits while striking out five Golden Bear batters.  At the plate, UIU only tallied three hits, but five walks  and a Concordia error gave the Peacocks their opportunities.
 
Upper Iowa will continue their home stand this weekend, Mar. 31 and Apr. 1, as the Peacocks welcome the #5 Warriors of Winona State University on Saturday and the Beavers of Minot State University on Sunday.   The first pitch for both day’s double headers is scheduled for 1 p.m.