Game Notes - Upper Iowa || Augustana || Winona State || Minnesota Crookston || Bemidji State || Northern SunTHE SCHEDULE & LIVE OPTION LINKSÂ
| Tuesday, April 22 | Thursday, April 24 | Saturday, April 26 | Sunday, April 27 |
Games 41-42
vs. No. 17 Augustana NSIC Doubleheader begins at 2 p.m. | Games 43-44
vs. No. 25 Winona State NSIC Doubleheader begins at 2 p.m. | Games 45-46
vs. Minnesota Crookston NSIC Doubleheader begins at 1 p.m. | Games 47-48
vs. Bemidji State NSIC Doubleheader begins at 12 p.m. |
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THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK SOFTBALL... After dropping four of six games in NSIC play this past week, the Peacocks will look to bounce back at home with four doubleheaders in just six days. On Tuesday, the Peacocks square-off with No. 17 Augustana before taking on No. 25 Winona State on Thursday. Both of those doubleheaders will begin at 2 p.m. On Saturday, UIU will honor its seniors during intermission of the Minnesota Crookston doubleheader, which is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. UIU will finish the week with a matchup against Bemidji State on Sunday at noon.
LAST WEEK... The Upper Iowa softball team went 2-4 this past week as they dropped their only two home games to Concordia- St. Paul, before bouncing back with a sweep on the road over Southwest Minnesota Sate. Those two wins pulled UIU to 8-10 in the NSIC this season, but the momentum died there. Despite earning a lead in game one and game two against Sioux Falls on Saturday, Upper Iowa dropped both decisions, falling to 15-25 overall this year and 8-12 in conference play. For the second straight week, Adrienna Olson led the Peacocks in hitting as she earned seven hits in 18 at-bats for a .389 batting average. She also posted a team-high .556 slugging percentage. From the rubber, sophomores Jacqueline Flood and Brooke Redmond both posted 1-2 records, but neither gave up less than ten earned runs for the week.
ON DECK... Depending on how the action plays out this weekend, Upper Iowa could earn a berth in the NSIC Softball Tournament, which will take place on May 1-3. The conference tourney will be played in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The league will partner with the Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Sioux Falls People for Youth to put on the event. The winner of the tournament will earn an automatic berth to the NCAA Central Region Tournament that will be played on Mary 8-11, 16-17 at sites to be determined.
THE SERIES... Upper Iowa is just 1-10 against Augustana since joining the Northern Sun. UIU defeated Augie, 3-1, in game one last year in Sioux Falls to break an 9-game Viking win streak. Meanwhile, the Peacocks and Warriors have squared off a total of 21 times since Upper Iowa moved up to Division II play before the 2006 season. Uncerimoniously, UIU is just 3-18 against WSU in that time span. The Peacocks have fared much better against the Golden Eagles. UIU holds a firm lead in their series with the UMC, 11-3, including a sweep at home last year. At the same time, the Peacocks hold an impressive 13-0 record against the Beavers of Bemidji State since the teams first met in 2006. The last time UIU hosted BSU and UMC, the Peacocks scored a program-best 59 combined runs in those four games.
ONE MORE, JACK... First-baseman Erica Kirgan earned an even .300 batting average this past week, while adding five RBIs and her tenth home run of the season as UIU went 2-4 in NSIC play. The Peacock infielder also posted a .500 slugging percentage and a .300 on-base percentage to go on top of her fifth double of the year. Kirgan's five runs batted in added to her team-high numbers as she is now just one RBI away from the 30-RBI plateau this season. Kirgan's home run – which was a solo shot in the fourth inning of game one against USF on Saturday – pulls her within one of tying Erin Bennek's record for most home runs in a career at Upper Iowa in Division II history.
SENIOR DAY... Saturday's doubleheader with the University of Minnesota Crookston has special significance for three seniors, who will be playing in their final home games of their career this weekend. Upper Iowa will honor
Kayla Bergman,
Adrienna Olson and
Brooklyn Koranda during intermission on Saturday.
ADRIENNA OLSON... Adrienna "Missy" Olson has started more games (173) and has more assists (301) than any Peacock since UIU transitioned to NCAA Division II play before the 2006 season. Olson has played in 175 games, while making 173 starts. She has racked up 463 at-bats, while registering 133 hits for a .287 career batting average. Olson has also earned 18 doubles, four triples, seven home runs, 49 RBIs and she has stolen 23 bases. A native of St. Olaf, Iowa, Olson will graduate this spring with a degree in conservation management.
BROOKLYN KORANDA... Brooklyn Koranda is currently second in UIU history with 248 career innings pitched and 52 career starts. Koranda has made 91 appearances in the pitching circle for the Peacocks and owns a career ERA of 5.00. Her 134 career strikeouts ranks fifth all-time at UIU, while her 10 career wins is tied for fifth in the record books. Making the most of her relief appearances, Koranda has a UIU-record 4 career saves. A native of Maquoketa, Iowa, Koranda will graduate this spring with a degree in elementary education.
KAYLA BERGMAN... Kayla Bergman currently ranks tenth in UIU history with 123 games played in a career. Bergman, who has 47 starts under her belt, has recorded 121 at-bats, earned 20 hits, two doubles, 1 triple and has earned five runs batted in. Bergman has also scored 37 runs in her career, including seven this season. On the base-paths, Bergman has successfully stolen a base 12 out of 16 attempts. A native of Sumner, Iowa, Bergman will graduate this spring with a degree in management.
WATCH IT LIVE... If you can't make it to Fayette for this week's doubleheaders, then tune in online and watch it free-of-charge or follow the live stats. Find the links above or click
here.
