Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The Peacock baseball team split a pair of nine-inning games on Wednesday in Clearwater, Fla.  Upper Iowa dropped an 8-3 decision to Mansfield University after taking a 2-1 lead into the sixth inning, but rallied from a four-run deficit, twice, against Tiffin University to score a 13-12 victory.  After the day's action, the Peacocks are 3-5 overall.

In game one, UIU got on the board in the top of the first with a pair of runs on just one hit.  After a pair of walks to open the inning, Alex George delivered the runners across the plate with a double to left center with one out.  The pitchers and defenses controlled the action until the bottom of the sixth when the Mountaineers scored a run with two outs thanks to a pair of singles and some well-timed ground outs. 

Still trailing 2-1, Mansfield broke the game open in the seventh scoring six runs on six hits to take a 7-2 lead.  A pair of strikeouts with the bases loaded ended the inning without any more damage.  After a throwing error, sent the leadoff runner to first for UIU, George knocked in his thrid run of the day with a single through the left side to pull the Peacocks within four, 7-3, but Mansfield got the run back in the bottom of the inning on a homerun to open the frame and set the final score at 8-3.

George and Adam Budron each had a pair of hits in the game for UIU and accounted for four of the Peacocks' six hits.  Anthony Ruden threw well for Upper Iowa, but suffered the loss to fall to 0-2.  Ruden recorded 6.1 innings allowing three runs on six hits while striking out five batters.  Jordan Kearns did not get an out, but allowed three runs on two hits, while Dan Cwiertniak threw the last 1.2 innings giving up two runs on five hits while earning four strikeouts.

In game two, Upper Iowa fell behind 4-0 after just two innings when the Dragons scored a run in the first and three more in the second inning.  The Peacocks pulled within one, 4-3, thanks to three runs in the top of the third. 

UIU's first rally began with a Luis Ravelo triple; the Peacock shortstop came home as Moser reached on an error of Tiffin's shortstop.  Drew Woods singled home a run with the bases loaded for the second run and Jacob Stenberg hit a sac fly to bring home the third home..

Thanks to three hits, TU was able to answer the Peacocks and retake their four-run lead, 7-3.  The Dragons scored their three runs on three hits including a two-run single.  Upper Iowa scratched back a run in the fourth inning when Mitch Moser and Jacob Greco doubled in back-to-back at bats with two outs, but Tiffin answered again with a run in the bottom of the fourth after a pair of singles with two outs.

Trailing 8-4, Upper Iowa had four straight singles to open the top of the fifth highlighted by a Colton Janssen rbi.  Cody Booker registered an rbi in the inning as he drove in Stenberg on a ground out.  The Peacocks pulled within one run, 8-7, with a score in the seventh inning as Janssen, who doubled with one out, scored due to a wild pitch and passed ball.

Upper Iowa wasted no time in the eighth inning as they scored four runs on four hits to take their first lead of the game, 11-8.  A pair of doubles from George and Eric Cottrell tied the game and a single by Stenberg gave UIU the lead.  Ravelo and Moser both walked with the bases loaded to earn rbi's and push the Peacock lead to three. 

Tiffin scored a run in the bottom of the inning to get within two, 11-9, but UIU added two more runs in the ninth on three hits.  Booker hit a two-run single to plate Stenberg and Janssen a hand Upper Iowa a 13-9 advantage heading into the final half inning.

The Dragons pulled out all the stops and made it interesting by scoring three runs on three hits, but the Peacocks maintained their lead and preserved the win.

After Shimpei Sato was chased off the hill after just three innings and seven runs on seven hits. Cody Heiman, who improved to 2-0, took over and threw 5.2 innings of relief allowing 5 runs in that time on eight hits.  Ross Kulick earned his third save of the season getting the final batter to flyout.

Janssen had a monster game at the plate with five hits, while Ravelo added four and Woods and Stenberg each tallied three.  George and Cottrell each had a pair of hits in the game.  In total, Upper Iowa earned 22 hits and left 16 on base.

Upper Iowa will take on Ohio Valley University as part of the Winning Inning Invitational.  The Peacocks and Fighting Scors and taking to the diamond on Thursday for a 10 a.m. game.