UIU Game Notes || NSIC Weekly Release

This Weekend in Peacock Softball... After earning victories in three out of four contests last weekend at the NSIC/MIAA Crossover, the Peacocks will head north again. This time, they host the University of Wisconsin-Parkside for a double-header on Saturday in Rochester, Minnesota inside the RCTC Dome on Friday morning. Then, on Saturday the Peacocks will face Grand View College for another double-header inside the dome. First pitch for both days will be thrown at 2 p.m.

The Series... The Peacocks are a perfect 1-0 against the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Rangers over the past four seasons. UIU defeated UWP back in 2010, 6-5. The Vikings of Grand View College and the Peacocks have met only once over the past half decade. UIU is 1-1 against GVC, as they earned a split with the Vikings in Rochester, Minnesota last season.

Freshman Flood... After connecting on her first collegiate home run on Saturday against Truman State, Jacqueline Flood sent another shot over the wall the very next day. Against Lindenwood, the freshman pitcher hit her second home run of the season, this one a two-run bomb over the right centerfield wall, in the top of the sixth to give her team a 3-1 lead.

On Deck... Following this weekend’s action, the Peacocks will wait for the Missouri Southern Border Battle which will take place on March 9th and 10th in Joplin, Missoui. The Peacocks will face Pittsburg State University and Missouri Southern State next Saturday, before taking on the University of Nebraska-Kearney and Missouri Western State on Sunday. UIU is just 5-12 against the MIAA over the past four seasons.

NSIC Rankings... Despite how early it is in the 2013 season, the Peacocks have had a hot start offensively. UIU is ranked in the top five in the NSIC in seven different offensive categories. The Peacocks are third in on-base percentage, fifth in hits, fifth in walks, fourth in stolen bases, third in steal attempts, fifth in RBI per game and second in stolen bases per game. UIU is also tied for fourth in home runs and the Peacocks have the fifth most doubles of any team in the conference. Furthermore, UIU has allowed the fifth fewest runs this year.

Preseason Pickin’s... For the second consecutive season, Upper Iowa was selected to finish eleventh out of 16 teams in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference based on the 2013 Preseason Softball Coaches Poll. UIU accumulated a total of 99 points in the poll after finishing the 2012 season with a 18-35 mark - three times as many wins as the 2011 season. The Peacocks tied with St. Cloud State for 10th place in last year’s NSIC standings with a 10-16 mark in conference play.

Fast Start Freshman... Not only has Jacqueline Flood had a hot start, but Lauren Marlinghaus has also hit the ball well. This past Sunday, the O’Fallon, Illinois native earned her first collegiate home run, coming in the fifth inning against Concordia, St. Paul. Her solo shot gave the Peacocks a decisive 7-0 lead and the defense did the rest to earn the victory.

Haberman’s Hot Streak... Senior outfielder Bailee Haberman has picked up rankings in three different offensive categories early in this 2013 season. She is tied for eighth in hitting percentage (.455), she is eigth in on-base percentage (.520) and she is tied for 14th with ten hits. The 2013 team captain had five hits in 11 at-bats last weekend in the NSIC/MIAA Crossover Tournament. She also drove in three runs and posted a .455 slugging percentage. Last year, Haberman finished second on the team with 54 hits, eight doubles and 26 RBI, while hitting .333.

Power Pitching... After losing over 130 innings of starting pitching with the graduation of Kylee Knop this past offseason, the Peacocks have found sturdy replacements in the early goings of 2013. Many freshman pitchers have stepped into the circle and achieved what Head Coach Anna Van Wetzinga has asked of them. Last weekend, the Peacocks finished with a 3.67 era and a 3-1 record. Brooklyn Koranda earned her second save of the season on Saturday, while Brooke Redmond struck out nine total batters and posted two wins for the Peacocks. Jacqueline Flood also had a strong outing, going just over seven innings, stiking out seven Lindenwood batters. Jenna Hermsen rounded out the weekend with a victory in the late game on Saturday. She had 12 groundball outs against the Northwest Missouri Bearcats as UIU won, 5-1.