Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Even mother nature couldn’t diminish the hype surrounding the NSIC opener between the Upper Iowa Softball team and the Winona State Warriors. The Peacocks entered Wednesday's matchup against WSU with a 2-17 series record, but the strong start in 2013 guaranteed for a good show. Even with snow and freezing temperatures, which forced the games to Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Kirkwood Community College’s Softball Diamond, didn’t stop the teams from unloading on each other.

The teams combined for five home runs and a total of 11 runs in game one as the Peacocks came from behind to emerge victorious, 7-4, to start conference play with a 1-0 record. WSU responded with a huge 10-run third inning in game two as the Warriors earned the split with a 12-2 win through five innings.  

“I’m extremely proud of the way they played in that first game,” Head Coach Anna Van Wetzinga said. “I think it showed them how well they can play against a very good team. Winona State is a very quality team, but I felt like we became content and satisfied. If you want to be among the top part of the conference you can’t become satisfied. You have to come out every game and every day ready to work.”

Game One Recap
The Warriors wasted no time in the bottom of the first inning of game one to inflict damage as they connected on back-to-back home runs to take a 3-0 lead. UIU responded with three runs of their own in the second inning though, as Tara Duran roped an RBI-double to the right field wall. Kayla Berman and Adrienna Olson crossed home plate on Duran's hit. Two batters later, Duran also crossed the diamond, as Williams earned the RBI.

“We didn’t let their three runs in the first inning snowball on us,” Van Wetzinga said. “We battled back and the offense produced. I thought that really helped Brooke Redmond gain some confidence on the mound.”

The Warriors retook the lead in the third inning with another home run, but the Peacocks answered right back in the top of the fifth. With two runners on, Jacqueline Flood sent the first pitch of the at-bat over the centerfield wall. Whitney Williams and Bailee Haberman both scored on the play as Flood bumped her home run total to three this season.

“I know the past two weeks have been frustrating for Jacqueline, because she’s been on pitchers but hasn’t been able to connect on the ball like she did today,” Van Wetzinga said. “She’s really been seeing the ball well lately and she finally connected on one – it was huge and it was timely.”

The Peacocks added an insurance run in the top of the seventh as Rachael Anello led off the inning with her first home run of the season over the centerfield wall.

“Her home run was huge and it gave us a little more breathing room,” Van Wetzinga added.

Despite the rough start, Redmond held up on the mound going the distance and earning the victory to improve to 8-2 this year.

The Peacocks had the momentum with their 7-4 victory, but that faded early in game number two.
 
Game Two Recap
After battling off a handful of pitches in the bottom of the first inning, Morgan Lintz gave the Warriors an early 2-0 lead with WSU’s third home run of the game.

Lintz hurt the Peacocks again, this time in the bottom of the third as she connected on an RBI-single and contributed to a 10-run inning for the Warriors. The Peacocks had four errors in the inning and the majority of the runs came with two outs.

“What happened in that inning is what could have happened in the first inning in game one,” Van Wetzinga admitted. “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to stop it and get that third out in game two.”

Trailing 12-0, the Peacocks fought back in the top of the fifth inning.

Duran and Casey Musgrave led the inning off with singles before pinch-hitter Kayla Bergman advanced the runners to second and third. Katie Mnichowicz gave UIU its first run of the game with an RBI infield-single and Bailee Haberman drove in run number two, but the inning ended on a fly-out and the run-rule came into effect.

Flood led the Peacocks with three hits and three RBI on the day, while Mnichowicz finished with two hits and two runs batted in. It was also a big day for Duran as her parents made the trip up for the game from Colorado. Together, they'll celebrate the young slugger's birthday tomorrow.

The 12-2 WSU victory dropped the Peacocks to 14-8 this season and 1-1 in the conference. UIU will now look ahead to a mid-week matchup next Tuesday in Wayne, Nebraska with the Wildcats of Wayne State. The Peacocks split with WSC last year.