Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Records

Upper Iowa (13-21, 6-8 NSIC) || MSU Moorhead (9-18, 5-13 NSIC)


 Summary

In danger of being swept at home for the first time since April 21 of 2012, the Peacocks capitalized on a two-run seventh inning to tie the game before earning the walk-off win thanks to a two-run home run from Erica Kirgan. Upper Iowa dropped game one to the Dragons of MSU Moorhead, 7-2, and trailed 3-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh in game two. Adrienna Olson, who hit a solo home run earlier in the game, added the first RBI before an error in the Dragon outfield helped score the tying run. The Peacocks then held MSUM scoreless in the top of the inning before Kirgan slayed the Dragons with her ninth jack of the season. The Peacocks will host one more doubleheader, this Tuesday at 2 p.m. against Concordia, before hitting the road.  
 Game One Recap - UIU 2, MSUM 7

The Peacocks fell into an early hole with the Dragons in game one and never fully recovered. MSUM loaded the bases in the top of the first inning by drawing a walk and earning a pair of singles. Another walk helped the visitors scratch the scoreboard first, but the Peacocks did strand three base-runners with an inning-ending groundout. 

Katie Mnichowicz looked to provide an immediate response for UIU as she led off with a double to left field, but she was stranded as Dragon pitcher Morgan Nybo stranded the next three Peacock hitters. 

MSUM didn't waste any time adding two more runs in the top of the second thanks to a two-run bomb from Mollie Annen. UIU looked to bounce back in the bottom of the second as Lauren Marlinghaus drew a walk, Madie Wilkin pinch-ran for her and stole second. Shelby Crist helped move Wilkin to third with a dribbler down the left-field line. Then Whitney Williams brought her home with a squeeze bunt. The visitor's lead was just two runs now thanks to a little small-ball offense from the Peacocks. 

The teams exchanged a pair of scoreless innings before MSUM stole all the momentum. 

In the top of the fifth, Brittany York smacked a solo homer over the fence as MSUM's lead swelled back to three. An error by the Peacock defense helped the Dragons add three more runs before the inning was over. When the inning could have been over, Kristina Villalobos took advantage of the visitor's extra opportunity. She ripped a three-run bomb over the right-field wall to extend MSUM's lead to 7-1.
 
The Peacocks added one final run in the bottom of the seventh on a last-gasp attempt, but it wasn't enough as UIU fell, 7-2. Katie Sammons recorded her fourth RBI of the season as she grounded out to the pitcher on a sac-hit which scored Tara Duran from third, but Nybo sealed the win as she earned the final out of a game with a groundout.

 Game Two Recap - UIU 5, MSUM 3 (8 Inn.)

Unlike yesterday, when the Peacocks bounced right back and looked like a different team against NSU in the nightcap, the home team fell behind early to their guests. After a scoreless first inning, the Dragons used two hits and an overthrow to earn the first run of the game.
 
After the Dragon's pitcher Kristen Nordby singled to right-center, she advanced to second on a wild pitch. Another single helped bring her home as she gave her team and herself a 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the second.
 
Nordby was strong on the mound through the first two innings as she retired six of the first eight batters she faced, but Adrienna Olson needed to see just one pitch to do her damage. The senior second-baseman rocketed a line-drive home run over the centerfield wall on a ball that was gone as soon as it left the bat. The solo shot was Olson's third this season and her seventh of her UIU career.
 
The tie would not hold though. MSUM ripped a single down the right-field line a half-inning later for an RBI as the Dragons retook the lead, 2-1.
 
The Peacocks looked to tie the game again, but the Dragons tacked on another home run before UIU responded.
 
 
With just one final chance, UIU headed to the bottom of the seventh in need of at least two runs. The Peacocks made their own luck, but they also got a little help. Tara Duran led off the inning with a single as she ripped an arching ball to centerfield. The Dragons' leaping attempt to catch the ball mid-air was all for naught. The ball hit off the glove of the outfielder and ricocheted to the wall.
 
Whitney Williams followed that up with a double to left-center, which brought Duran to third. After the Dragons recorded an out, Olson ripped a line drive down to right which brought Duran home and forced an error in right field. That error – a bobble – gave Williams just enough time to slide safely at home and tie the game at 3-3.
 
MSUM got the remaining two outs of the inning, but the visitors no longer held the momentum.
 
Brooke Redmond, who was impressive from the rubber in game two, gave up a lead-off single in the top of the eighth before retiring three straight batters to give her team a chance at a walk-off victory.
 
The Peacocks headed to the bottom of the eighth with high hopes. Jacqueline Flood provided the first spark as she singled up the middle. Two batter's later, Erica Kirgan ensured a weekend split and a game-two victory. The Ankeny, Iowa native fouled off a couple pitches before connecting on the perfect one. The ball sailed over the fence and she raised her arms in triumph. The team gathered at home plate and together they jumped for joy.
 
The two-run home run was the first walk-off in Kirgan's career at UIU and the ninth for her this season. The 5-3 victory gives UIU a split at home this weekend and keeps the Peacocks in the playoff hunt.
 Up Next

The Peacocks will host one more doubleheader, this Tuesday at 2 p.m. against Concordia, before hitting the road.  Upper Iowa holds a 5-16 record against CU, but the Peacocks did earn a 2-1 record against the Golden Bears last season. Click here to read that recap.