Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The Upper Iowa Softball team has been haunted by big innings from opponents this season. That remained true on Tuesday afternoon for at least game one of their double header with Concordia University, St. Paul.
 
Despite a two-run lead late in the opening game, UIU gave up three runs in the sixth inning and the Golden Bears secured the 4-3 win. The Peacocks, who were the designated road team despite playing at home inside the Eischeid Softball Complex, stranded seven runners on the bags in the loss. Yet, as they’ve been able to do all year long, the Peacocks bounced back in game two, thanks to six RBIs from five different players. Hailley Haning led the way for UIU with three hits and two runs batted in leading the Peacocks to a  7-3 victory over CU to ensure a split in conference play.
 
Jacqueline Flood went the distance from the pitching circle for UIU in game two and earned her seventh victory of the 2013 season. Through seven innings the freshman right-hander recorded a season-high 11 strikeouts, allowed just two earned runs off nine total hits.
 
"We kept their speed in check and #Jacqueline Flood# did a nice job keeping them off balance in game two," Head Coach Anna Van Wetzinga said. "I'm really proud of her today and her consistency really showed out there in the circle today." 

The Peacocks, who improved to 19-13 overall and 6-6 in the NSIC, will be back in action this Saturday as they host the Cougars of Sioux Falls University in Fayette. First pitch of that twin bill is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
Game One Recap
 
The Golden Bears were the first to strike in game one and it was a devestating shot. A solo home run from Lindsey Kamleiter in the bottom of the third inning gave CU a 1-0 lead heading into the top of the fourth.
 
The Peacocks responded with a solo shot of their own, this one coming from Hailley Haning to tie the game up at 1-1. It was the senior's first homer of the season. Three batters and two outs later, Tara Duran gave UIU the lead with an RBI-single into left field. Jacqueline Flood gave came home from second base on the play.
 
After Brooke Redmond stranded a runner in the bottom of the fourth and kept the Peacocks out in front by one run, the offense added another run. In the top of the fifth, Rachael Anello connected on an RBI-double to center field that brought Whitney Williams across the plate.
 
Already with a solid 3-1 lead in the sixth inning, UIU struggled to add any more run support and it cost them. The Peacocks stranded three runners on the bags in the sixth inning and the Golden Bears retook their early game lead.

CU led off the bottom of the sixth with a triple before an error on the Peacock defense sent that runner home. Still leading by one run and nearly out of the inning with two outs, Bekah Roth’s single scored the tying and go-ahead runs to give the Golden Bears a 4-3 lead.

"We had some opportunities to break the game open, but we let them slip by," Van Wetzinga said. "That came back to hurt us, but I thought Brooke Redmond pitched well. To Concordia's credit, they took advantage of some defensive miscues and they strung together some hits to earn the victory."
 
UIU couldn’t muster another comeback in the bottom of the seventh and dropped the first of two games with CU.
 
Game Two Recap
 
Despite another slow start, the Peacocks were the first to take the lead in game two. Hailley Haning came through again for UIU with runners in scoring position. After Rachael Anello reached second base on a double and Katie Mnichowicz was hit by a pitch, Haning connected on another double which brought Anello across home plate.
 
"We were much sharper offensively and defensively in game two," Van Wetzinga said. "We made the adjustments that we needed to and we were able to take advantage of some of those opportunities."

The Peacocks’ one run lead disappeared though in the bottom of the fourth as the Golden Bears connected on another home run. This time, it was Brynn Larson who sent a two-run shot over the left field wall to give her team a 2-1 lead.

UIU bounced back thanks to a game-tying RBI-single up the middle from Haning. A couple batters later and with the bases loaded, Flood was hit with a pitch and Mnichowicz scored the go-ahead run. 

Despite leading 3-2, the Peacocks weren't done. Still with the bases loaded, Bailee Haberman drove in a run with an RBI-single before Tara Duran followed suit with an RBI-single down the right field line. In all, UIU plated four runs in the fifth inning to take a 5-2 lead heading into the bottom of the inning.

The Peacocks continued to add insurance runs before the game was complete. Lauren Marlinghaus reached base in the sixth after an error from the Golden Bears' defense which scored a run and Anello roped an RBI-single to left center to plate Erica Kirgan in the seventh inning to extend the Peacocks' lead to five runs.

CU made one final attempt at a comeback thanks to an RBI-double to right centerfield in the bottom of the seventh, but with two outs Flood earned one final groundout to end the game and preserve the Peacocks' 7-3 victory.

From the mound, Flood was golden. The freshman from Mount Vernon, Illinois struck out a career-high 11 opposing hitters, while pitching all seven innings giving up nine hits, two earned runs and walking only one Golden Bear.

Flood and company will now sit tight until Saturday awaiting their showdown with USF.