The Peacocks completed their weekend sweep with 29 hits in Saturday's doubleheader against Minot State. Upper Iowa took an early lead in game one, but needed late game heroics from Katie Mnichowicz in the form of a sixth inning grand slam earn a 6-4 win. Game two saw the Peacocks score in each of the first five innings, including another Mnichowicz home run, but need Jacqueline Flood to come in late to pitch her way out of a jam and save a 7-3 victory for UIU.
 
Whitney Williams led Upper Iowa with six hits on the day, while Shelby Crist had five and Katie Sammons and Flood had four each. Mnichowicz had just the two hits, both big flies, but led the way with five RBIs.
 
Upper Iowa is on a four-game winning streak, now 16-21 overall and 11-5 in conference play. The Beavers fell to 24-14 on the season and 5-10 in Northern Sun. UIU will hit the road for four doubleheaders next week, starting with a twin-billing at Concordia-St. Paul on Tuesday, April 14.
 
Game 1: Upper Iowa 6, Minot State 4
 
Upper Iowa got things going early in game one, scoring in the bottom of the first on a drive to deep left that tipped of the Beaver left fielder's glove and hit the wall. Williams, who led off the game with a single, came around to score. 
 
UIU added one in the second inning off when Lauren Marlinghaus led off with a double and scored on a Crist single. The Peacocks loaded the bases in the inning with one out, but came up empty.
 
Minot State got a nice surprise in the top of the third inning when pitcher Mindy Lorimor hit a solo home run, her first hit of the season, to put the Beavers on the board. 
 
After a scoreless fourth, the Beavers took the lead in the fifth on a pair of solo home runs. Lorimer lined another one over the wall in left center, then two batters later catcher Melissa Bell hit a ball well over the fence in left. The home run's kept coming in the sixth, as Minot State added another solo shot by Ashley Hill to push their lead to 4-2.
 
The Peacocks' got into the act in their half of the sixth, loading the bases on a Sammy Garrett double, followed singles from Crist and Williams. That brought up Mnichowicz, who promptly hit a grand slam to left center, giving UIU the 6-4 lead.
 
Peacock starter Jacqueline Flood allowed a pair of walks in the top of the seventh, but worked around them the Beaver baserunners to end the game. Flood (9-9) threw a complete game, allowing seven hits and four runs, all earned. She struck out four and walked a pair.
 
 
Game 2: Upper Iowa 7, Minot State 3
 
Game two started with a Williams single, her fourth straight game with a leadoff hit. She came around to score on an Erica Kirgan single to put the Peacocks in front 1-0 after one.
 
UIU got another run the bottom of the second on three singles, bringing Marlinghaus around to score and Williams picking up the RBI.
 
The Beavers scored in the top of the third when second baseman Rachel Burdette singled through the middle and shortstop Ali Cygan scored from second base. Upper Iowa came back to load the bases with one outs in the bottom of the third with Riley Kruel at the plate. Kruel hit a deep fly ball to left and the left fielder misplayed the ball, allowing two runs to score and giving the Peacocks a 4-1 lead.
 
Mnichowicz kept her hot bat going in the bottom of the fourth with another home run to left, this time a solo shot. Upper Iowa loaded the bases on three singles in the bottom of the fifth and Flood smashed a single through the left side to score a pair, pushing the Peacock lead to six, 7-1.
 
Minot State loaded the bases in the top of the sixth with a pair of singles and a Peacock error, then scored two runs on walks before Flood came on in relief of Taylor Bjork. Flood got the next batter to ground into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning on her first pitch.
 
The Peacocks threatened in the sixth, but couldn't pad their four run lead with more runs. Flood stayed in for the seventh and earned the save as the sent the Beavers down in order.
 
Taylor Bjork (2-2) earned the win, tossing 5.1 innings, allowing three runs, only one of which was earned. Bjork allowed eight hits, struck out four and walked three. Flood earned the five-out save, striking out one.