Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
One day after earning a split with Minot State in their home opener, the Upper Iowa Softball team (16-12, 3-5 NSIC) repeated that feat on Sunday as they took one-of-two games with visiting Univeristy of Mary thanks to a 5-3 win in game two at the Eisheid Softball Complex. The Marauders jumped on the Peacocks early in game one and outlasted their hosts to earn the 8-6 victory, but UIU rallied in the nightcap game due to tremendous pitching from freshman Jacqueline Flood. 

Flood, who improved to 6-3 this year with the victory, earned her second complete game victory in as many days allowing just one hit to the Marauders in game two. 

"We had a poor performance in the first game, so we just had to flush it and I felt like I had to come out strong to give our team a chance," Flood said afterwards.

The only hit Flood gave up was a three-run home run to Allison Brown in the first inning, but Hailley Haning, Katie Mnichowicz and Whitney Williams helped lead a Peacock comeback.  The trio of players each recorded a pair of hits, while Haning tallied two run-scoring hits.

UIU has seen the three best teams in the conference early in the 2013 conference schedule and earned a split against two of them including Minot State and Winona State. Now, the Peacocks will look ahead to a pivotal Tuesday double header with Minnesota State University, Mankato inside the Eischeid Softball Complex.

Game One Recap

Feeling no ill effects from the road, the visiting Marauders jumped on the Peacocks right off the bat in game one. Allison Brown gave her team a 1-0 lead with an RBI-double before scoring moments later on a passed ball. Julissa Perales added another run before the end of the first inning with her fifth home run of the season.

The Peacocks couldn't answer back in the bottom of the first and Brooke Redmond got in trouble again in the top of the second. With the bases loaded, Redmond walked Erin Keen to give U-Mary a 4-0 lead. Brown was back at the plate and struck again. This time the damage was a RBI-single.

Even after a pitching change, UIU gave up one more run before ending the inning.

U-Mary had a 6-0 lead, but it didn't take long for the Peacocks to battle back.

After loading the bases in the bottom of the second, UIU plated two runners thanks to a double from Whitney Williams. Rachael Anello then laid down a successful squeeze bunt as Adrienna Olson crossed home plate.

Down by just three now, Katie Mnichowicz stepped up to the plate. Her single down the right field line drove home Anello and Williams. The second inning ended with UIU trailing, 6-5.

The Peacocks would have to wait until the bottom of the third to tie the game as Williams struck again. This time, it was an RBI-single as Bailee Haberman came home to tie the game at 6-6.

Despite solid relief pitching from Brooklyn Koranda - who had a season-best five strikeouts - the Peacocks couldn't match the Marauders' solo runs in the fourth and fifth innings.

Cherlyn Trujillo earned the victory for U-Mary as she came in releif of Keen and never allowed a hit through four innings.

Game Two Recap

After giving up the three-run shot to Brown in the first inning of game two, the Peacocks were solid in all phases of the game.

"That's not the way you want to start out the game," Flood admitted. "I wanted to come out strong for my team, but thankfully we responded with some runs and the defense really picked me allowing me to focus on executing pitches."

UIU scored two runs in the bottom of the first thanks to Haning's RBI-double and Flood's own run support, which came in the form of an RBI-single. That pulled the Peacocks within one, 3-2, but UIU didn't tie the game until the third inning.

With Mnichowicz at second base, Haning wasted no time bringing her home as she plated her second runner of the game with an RBI-single up the middle. The team then broke that 3-3 tie in the fourth inning with two runs.

With two outs, Williams and Anello both earned singles to get runners in scoring position for Mnichowicz. Continuing with her big day from the batter's box, the Palentine, Illinois native ripped a single up the middle which brought Williams home from second for Mnichowicz's third RBI of the day.

Moments later, Mnichowicz took off for second base. With the distraction and the Marauders trying to make a play at second, Anello crossed home plate almost easily to give the Peacocks a 5-3 lead. 

The Peacocks held on to that two-run lead thanks to great pitching and solid defense. Mnichowicz showed why she is one of the most athletic shortstops in the game with good play after good play in the dirt. Flood kept her busy with low pitches and ground balls. In all, the Marauders were forced into 15 ground outs while the freshman pitcher racked up three strikeouts through seven innings of work.

"I actually didn't know that they had only one hit," Flood said, almost baffled, after the game. "I didn't really expect to have a game like this coming out of high school. You know college is going to be different - you know the opponents are going to get big hits off you because you're still adjusting."

Next up for UIU is a double header against the Mavericks of Minnesota State, which is set for Wednesday, April 10, at 2 p.m.  The Peacocks are then slated to travel north to face MSU Moorhead and Northern State on Saturday and Sunday, April 13 and 14.