Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The Upper Iowa Softball team hosted the number one team in the conference on Saturday afternoon inside the Eischeid Softball Complex in its home opener. Minot State entered the weekend with a 25-2 record and 7-1 conference mark, but the Peacocks were able to earn the split thanks to strong pitching and timely hits. Jacqueline Flood helped the Peacocks secure an 8-4 victory in game two of their double-header with the Beavers thanks to a two-run double and a complete game from the pitching circle.

With the split UIU stands at 15-11 overall and 2-4 in the Northern Sun Conference. The Peacocks will now look forward to a double-dip with the University of Mary tomorrow starting at noon in Fayette.

Game One Recap

Reminiscent to the first inning of game one against Winona State last week, UIU pitcher Brooke Redmond saw Tiffany Friesen send a two-run home run over the left field wall and give her team a 2-0 lead after one inning. The difference was, Minot State started one of the best pitchers in the conference in Mandy Greenberg and the Peacocks struggled to catch up.

The 5-foot-10 Beavers’ senior right-hander entered with a .70 earned run average and a 13-1 record in 18 appearances. Greenberg was nearly perfect against the Peacocks as she went five innings, allowed only two hits and no runs.

The Beavers added some run support in the top of the fourth inning with two RBI-singles before earning four runs in the sixth inning off another home run, this one coming from Katie Backes.

UIU was never able to catch up and dropped the 8-0 decision. It was the Peacocks’ fourth loss in a row – all coming in conference play. The Beavers on the other hand, earned the win to extend their win streak to six games.

Game Two Recap

With the momentum from game one, Melissa Bell and the Beavers wasted no time striking blood in game two. Bell led off the top of the first with a home run off the first pitch she saw from Jacqueline Flood. This time, the Peacocks bounced back with a strong uppercut of their own.

Rachael Anello led off the bottom of the first inning with her second home run of the year and second home run in as many weeks. After tying the game, the Peacocks took the lead for the first time that day with a RBI-single from Hailley Haning which scored Katie Mnichowicz.

Despite the shaky first pitch from Flood, the freshman pitcher held the Beavers scoreless for a total of three innings and never gave up more than one run per inning.

Adrienna Olson gave her pitcher a little support in the second inning with a two-bag knock to left centerfield that brough Kayla Bergman across home plate. In the next at-bat, Anello was up again and didn’t disappoint. This time though, a bunt from Anello led to a throwing error and she was awarded two RBIs on the play as Whitney Williams and Olson crossed home plate.

Bell answered for the Beavers with another home run. This time, it came in the top of the third and it pulled Minot State back within striking distance, 5-2. Friesen then connected on an RBI-double to right centerfield in the fourth and the UIU lead was back to two.

After struggling in game one and the start of game two from the batter’s box, Flood picked an opportune time to bring home another run, or two. The Mount Vernon, Illinois native earned her third double of the season in the bottom of the fourth to start at three-run inning as both Haning and Madie Wilkin scored on the knock. Haberman brought her young pitcher home with another double and earned her 14th RBI of the season.

The Beavers scored one final run in the top of the sixth, but the Peacocks put the game away in the seventh as Flood earned back-to-back groundouts followed by a fly-out to end the game and seal the win.

In all, Flood went the distance for just the second time this year and helped end the Beavers' six-game win streak. She gave up six hits and just three earned runs and improved to 5-3 after the 8-4 victory.