The Peacock baseball team evened their 2015 record at 2-2 thanks to a sweep of the Mansfield University Mountaineers on the first day of UIU's run at the Winning Inning Invitational. Today's games were in St. Petersburg, Fla. with Upper Iowa claiming the first 5-4 and the second game 12-11. Big innings were the story of the day for the Peacocks who scored 15 of their 17 runs in just three innings at the plate.
UIU broke open a scoreless tie in game one during the top of the third inning scoring four runs on five hits. After a
Tyus Adkins double put runners on second and third,
Luis Ravelo singled up the middle to earn one rbi; Adkins scored while Ravelo got caught in a rundown.
Jacob Greco pushed a run home on a double down the left field line and
Alex George followed with a double to center to drive in the Peacocks' fourth run of the inning.
Mansfield answered the big inning in the bottom of the fifth with four runs on three hits and an error. Three of the runs scored on an Anthony Renz double that cleared the bases.
The Peacocks didn't waste any time to retake the lead scoring the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth. Cottrell doubled with one out and advanced to third on a grounder.
Mitch Moser came through with the big hit with two outs on a single to left that scored the eventual game winner.
Mason Buster started the game and earned the no-decision with 4.1 innings of work; the senior allowed four runs, two were earned, on six hits while striking out one Mountie.
Dan Cwiertniak earned the win with his 2.1 innings of scoreless time on the mound surrendering just one hit.
Ross Kulick came in for the final out of the game to earn the save when Jacob Stenberg threw a strike to second base to catch the Mountaineers stealing for the final out.
In the second game, the teams combined 12 runs in the first inning as each starter did not survive the first inning. After Mansfield put four runs on the board on four hits, the Peacocks answered with an eight run effort in the bottom of the inning. UIU sent 12 batters to the plate racking up 5 hits and a pair of walks and hit batsmen.
The big first inning for the Peacocks was highlighted by a Greco rbi-single, a two-run single by Cottrell, a bases loaded double to right center by Ravelo that scored three, and a Moser single through the right side to drive in the eighth run.
The Mountaineers tied the game in the top of the fourth scoring another four runs on four hits thanks to a Wes Baylor grand slam over the right field wall, but the Peacocks once again answered the bell.
Upper Iowa retook an 11-8 lead in the bottom of the fourth with three runs on four hits including a
Drew Woods single to drive in the third run. The first two runs scored on a George walk and a Cottrell sac fly to center.
The Peacocks added a run in the fifth when Moser drove in Adkins on a sac fly to center.
Mansfield scored two in the sixth and were threatening for more, but with runners on the corners and only one out, the Peacock defense turned two on a lineout to Moser, who fired to first and ended the rally.
The Mounties made one last push in the seventh scoring a run on a sac fly, but Upper Iowa held on for the victory as Kulick shut the door once again on the hill for the Peacocks.
Moser led the Peacocks with three hits in the game, while Ravelo, Greco, Cottrell and Woods all had two hits each.
Cody Heiman picked up the win for the Peacocks with just one-third of an inning on the mound as the pitcher of record when UIU retook their lead, 11-8. Seehusen picked up the early innings of relief going 3.1 on the hill allowing three run on two hits while striking out four batters.
Matt Banks added two late innings for the Peacocks surrendering three runs, one earned, on just one hit and a pair of walks. Kulick registered his second save of the day with one inning of work allowing just one hit while getting three flyouts to end the game.
The Peacocks will match up with Kentucky Wesleyan College tomorrow night at 5 p.m. on day two of the Winning Inning Invitational.
