Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Upper Iowa began their play in the Winning Inning Clearwater Invitational Sunday morning with a doubleheader against the Panthers of Kentucky Wesleyan College. In game one, both teams combined for 22 hits, but UIU outlasted KWC, 13-8. The win gave manager Mark Danker is 300th career win and the players proceeded to give him the game ball following the contest. In game two of the twinbill, the Peacocks stranded 12 baserunners and fell to the Panthers by a score of 6-3 to split on the day. Upper Iowa's record now sits at 4-2 while Kentucky Wesleyan College is 3-4 on the young season.

Game 1 Recap

In game one, KWC struck first in the top of the first inning with a run to take the lead. UIU captured the lead with three runs of their own in the bottom of the frame. Tyler Adams walked and one batter later, Mikey Henrichs put runners on the corners before a walk from Andrew Kraus loaded them up. In stepped Jose Aguirre who roped a double down the left field line scoring both Adams and Henrichs and advancing Kraus to third. A sacrifice fly by John Dobson brought home Kraus and gave the Peacocks a 3-1 advantage. 

Upper Iowa was hungry for more and four more runs crossed the dish in the bottom of the second. William Loza reached on an error, Cody Heiman walked and Matt Corbitt brought both of them in with a double to left field. Henrichs then continued his 6-6 day with an RBI single bringing in Corbitt. The fourth run of the inning would score on another RBI hit for Aguirre as the Peacocks were cruising and led the Panthers 7-1.

In the top of the third, the purple and silver cut the UIU lead to 7-3 thanks to a bases loaded walk and an RBI single. 

In the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings, Upper Iowa added some very important insurance runs. In the fourth frame, Dobson brought in Henrichs on an RBI single and Heiman scored Kraus with a bases loaded walk. In the fifth, the Peacocks increased their lead to 10-3 when, again, Aguirre laced an RBI double down the left field line allowing Henrichs to cross the plate.  

KWC didn't go away easily though putting a five spot in their half of the sixth to make in a 10-8 game in favor of UIU. 

But just was the case the entire game, Upper Iowa's bats came to life when they were needed the most. Loza walked with one out, Heiman reached on an error and that pushed Loza all the way to third. An RBI groundout from Adams brought home Loza and moved Heiman over to second base. Corbitt then singled to put runners on the corners for Henrichs who continued his hot start to the day. The Hartford, Iowa native slapped a double to right field scoring both Heiman and Corbitt to make the score 13-8 where it stood after the final pitch. 

On the bump, Eric Anderson improved to 2-0 by pitching five innings and allowed three earned runs on five hits while striking out three panthers and walking only two. In relief, Dan Cwertniak only went a third of an inning but Nick Tuttle came into shut the door. The Western Dubuque High School product earned his first career save throwing one and two thirds and gave up just one run on three hits while striking out two and walking one.

Offensively, Henrichs led the way going 4 for 4 with four runs scored and three RBIs. Corbitt turned in a 3 for 5 performance along with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Aguirre tallied three hits in five at-bats bringing in four runs of his own. Dobson also got a hit as well as two RBIs. 

Game 2 Recap

Runs came at much more of a premium for both teams in game number two. Neither team got on the scoreboard until both did in the third inning when Upper Iowa was the first to so as the away team. Henrichs walked and stole second, one of his five stolen bases over the course of both games. Kraus then reached first on an error pushing Henrichs to third. Aguirre then lined into a double play, centerfield to first base allowing Henrichs to cross homeplate. 

In the bottom of the inning, Kentucky Wesleyan earned the lead with three runs of their own. They added two in the fourth and one in the fifth to take a 6-1 lead through five innings. 

The Peacocks tried their best to rally back cutting the deficit to three, 6-3 in the top of the sixth inning. Samuel Kortes ripped a one-out single through the left side and Adams followed it up with a walk. A Corbitt flyout advanced Kortes to third and Adams stole second during Henrichs' at-bat. The third baseman then continued his perfect day with a two-RBI double bringing in both Kortes and Adams. That is how the game ended up though as UIU fell to KWC 6-3.

Rory Kolo got the start for Upper Iowa and lasted four innings giving up five runs, three of which were earned on four hits while striking out three Panther batters and walking two. In relief, Jake Stenberg pitched an inning giving up one run on one hit while walking one batter. Freshman number two then came on to pitch in Jordan Kearns. The Van Horn, Iowa native pitched a perfect inning of relief for the Peacocks. 

At the plate, Henrichs was the only one with multiple hits (2) to go with a run scored and two RBIs. Aguirre also had a hit and an RBI.

Monday, Upper Iowa is back at it with a doubleheader against the Fighting Scots of Ohio Valley University. First pitch is set for 10 a.m. again.