Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The Peacocks closed an impressive run at the NSIC/MIAA Crossover Tournament with a split against Lindenwood University and Concordia University on Sunday. UIU scored three runs in the top of the sixth against the Lady Lions, but a grand slam from Kate Keaton in the bottom of the seventh gave Lindenwood the 5-3 victory in the morning opener. The Peacocks bounced right back in the second game as they shutout the Golden Bears en route to a 7-0 victory. The split gives UIU a 4-3 record early in the 2013 season.

“Overall, I was pretty happy with the weekend,” Head Coach Anna Van Wetzinga said. “From the first weekend to this past weekend, we made some nice adjustments offensively. We cut down on strikeouts, battled better at the plate and were able to make adjustments sooner.”

The Peacocks will return to the RCTC Dome in Rochester, Minnesota for a pair of non-conference doubleheaders. On Friday, Mar. 1, UIU will host the University of Wisconsin-Parkside before they take on Grand View College on Saturday, Mar. 2. Both doubleheaders are scheduled to start at 2 p.m.

Game One Recap

After connecting on her first collegiate home run on Saturday, Jacqueline Flood picked up right where she left off at the plate on Sunday. In the top of the sixth with two runners on, Flood sent a shot over the right centerfield wall to give the Peacocks a 3-1 lead over Lindenwood.

“With a freshman, you’re never sure what you’re going to get, but I think Jacqueline is a very mature freshman,” Van Wetzinga said. “I like the way she approaches the game and goes about it. She’s very determined and focused.”

Flood was also given the start in the pitching circle. The freshman went five strong innings giving up only one earned run on five hits, while striking out five Lady Lions. In the seventh, she ran into trouble when two pinch hitters reached base thanks to a single and a walk with no outs.

Jenna Hermsen came in relief of Flood, but could not seal the deal. A third straight pinch hitter singled to load the bases, and Kate Keaton, the fourth pinch hitter of the inning, made the Peacocks pay. Keaton’s walk-off grand slam gave the Lady Lions the 5-3 victory, improving their record to 5-6 with the win.

“It was obviously a frustrating end,” Van Wetzinga said. “You kind of get caught up on the last swing and the grand slam and ending that way, but what was more frustrating for us as a staff was that we didn’t think we had a good approach offensively.”

The Peacocks left five on base despite the three-run shot from Flood.

“I don’t think we had enough quality at-bats or tough outs and I think it showed,” Van Wetzinga said. “We relied basically on one swing of our own bat to be our sole offense and we need to put more pressure on a team throughout a game more consistently. We need to try to put some more runs on the board and never be satisfied.”

Game Two Recap

In their second contest of the day, the Peacocks wasted no time getting on the board against Concordia-St. Paul. With runners on second and third in the second, Whitney Williams hit a bullet to the Golden Bears’ shortstop. The throw to first was high, but the ball bounced back into play and Williams was thrown out trying to reach second base which ended the inning. Tara Duran and Adrienna Olson both scored on the play; Williams earned an rbi as Duran crossed the plate, but Olson's run was unearned as she came home on the misplay. The Peacocks took their 2-0 lead into the third inning.

“I was very happy with the way we bounced back in game two,” Van Wetzinga said. “We were all kind of down after that first game, but our girls got together and came out with good energy.”

Hailley Haning pushed the Peacocks’ lead to 3-0 after a fielder’s choice rbi in the bottom of the third. UIU then took a convincing 6-0 lead after a two-run RBI single from Williams and a one-run RBI single from Bailee Haberman in the bottom of the fourth. Lauren Marlinghaus finished off the scoring barrage with her first collegiate homerun in the fifth inning to set the final score at 7-0.

“We saw a lot of pitches and we were putting the ball in play,” Van Wetzinga said. “We also hit the ball harder; they weren’t weak ground balls. We were hitting more line drives and earned a few more walks. Once we got more base runners on we could do more things and put the pressure on the defense.”

Brooke Redmond earned her second victory of the season on the rubber after throwing seven scoreless innings. She faced 26 batters, striking out 6 and walking just 1. Rachael Anello led the Peacocks with six hits over the weekend, while Haberman had five hits and three rbi. Flood finished the weekend with three runs scored, her first two collegiate homeruns and a total of six rbi.

“She [Flood] hit the ball really well on Saturday and finished with two big homeruns for us,” Van Wetzinga said of her freshman hitter. “She’s just been very consistent offensively all year.”

Despite the strong start to the season, Van Wetzinga keeps the big picture in mind as the Peacocks move forward.

“Even though we had a pretty solid weekend, there is still a ton of stuff we need to get better at,” the third-year coach said. “I don’t think we’ve played a complete seven innings with focus offensively and defensively.”