Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Records Upper Iowa (10-16, 3-3 NSIC) || University of Mary (19-13, 4-4 NSIC)
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Summary The Upper Iowa softball team fell into a big hole in game one against the University of Mary as the teams battled in Northern Sun Conference action in Minot, North Dakota. UIU trailed by five runs after the top of the first and never recovered. The Peacocks dropped their third consecutive game-one to a conference opponent as the Marauders sealed a 6-0 victory. Yet just like the three previous outings, Upper Iowa recovered in game two. Thanks to a pair of RBIs and a home run from
Katie Mnichowicz, a pair of runs batted in from
Megan Butler and another RBI from
Adrienna Olson, the Peacocks picked up the 6-4 win in game two to stay even at 3-3 in conference play this season.
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Game One Recap | Mary- 6, UIU - 0After a one, two, three top of the first inning from Upper Iowa, it didn't take long for U-Mary to scratch the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning. The Marauders earned back-to-back singles to lead-off the inning before each stole a base. Another single drove in the first of five runs for U-Mary. The Marauders totaled six hits in the inning and took advantage of a Peacock fielding error. Despite the game just getting started, the lead proved insurmountable.
Upper Iowa stranded a total of 10 runners in the game and earned just five hits, while committing two errors. Meanwhile, the designated home team took advantage of nine hits to solidify the 6-0 victory. Erin Keen pitched a complete game for UM allowing just five hits, striking out eight and walking five. She faced a total of 31 batters and picked up the win for the Marauders - her tenth of the season.
For Upper Iowa, it was just the fourth time all year the Peacocks have been shut out.
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Game Two Recap | UIU - 6, Mary- 4Unlike the first game, the UIU offense found its rhythm early and often in game number two.
Katie Mnichowicz led off the game with a double to center field. She advanced to third on a sac-bunt from
Riley Kruel before
Megan Butler brought her home with a sacrifice-fly. The RBI was Butler's second of the year, while Mnichowicz picked up her 14th run scored this year - tied for the team-high with Kruel.
The Marauders earned a hit in the bottom of the first, but couldn't duplicate the Peacocks' run as UIU got out of the inning unscathed. In the second, the guests added to their lead. Two Peacocks got on the bags before
Whitney Williams drew a walk to load the bases.
Adrienna Olson followed her teammates' lead as she also drew a walk and in the process, scored a run.
Madie Wilkin put UIU up, 2-0, as she trotted home from third on the play. A Marauder mistake helped UIU extend that lead to three runs as the U-Mary catcher let a pitch get past her and
Shelby Crist stole home. Despite not gaining any single hit in the inning, the visitors scored two runs in the second.
The home team responded with a two-run RBI-double in the bottom of the second, but UIU still led, 3-2.
Both teams were quiet over the next two innings as the pitchers dominated the game. Then in the fifth, UIU's lead swelled to four thanks to a solo home run from Mnichowicz. Upper Iowa's shortstop jacked one over the right-field wall for her third bomb of the season. The Marauders didn't take long to respond as Allison Brown led-off the bottom of the inning with a solo shot of her own. The home run kept U-Mary within one, 4-3, but the visitors were determined to pull out the win.
Whitney Williams helped UIU gain another run as she reached on a fielder's choice, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on an RBI-single from Mnichowicz. After advancing on a throwing error, Mnichowicz brought Upper Iowa's lead to 6-3 thanks to another RBI from Butler. The Peacocks took their three-run lead into the bottom of the sixth.
U-Mary had one last gasp thanks to another home run, but even that couldn't help them pull off the win.
Brooke Redmond - who improved to 9-6 this year with the win - threw six innings before
Brooklyn Koranda earned her first save of the season. Despite being out-hit in the game, 8-7, the Peacocks picked up the 6-3 win to stay even at 3-3 in the NSIC this year.
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Up NextUpper Iowa will stay overnight in Minot as the team prepares for its second of two NSIC twin bills in chilly North Dakota. The Peacocks face Minot State on Sunday morning inside Herb Parker Stadium. The doubleheader will begin at 11 a.m. Live stats and live video will be provided by the Minot State Athletics Department.
