After dropping a 12-6 decision in game one on Saturday, the Peacock baseball team fought back from a 6-3 hole late in game two to post a 7-6 victory against the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State University. The split came with some late inning heroics from several players both on the mound and at the plate. With the split, UIU and SMSU are both 16-20 overall, but the Mustangs still hold the advantage in the NSIC with a 9-11 mark, while the Peacocks are 8-14.
In game two, Southwest Minnesota State took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning against Peacock starter
Zach Carstens. The Mustangs used a pair of two-out doubles from Jarred Carlson in the first and third innings to post their runs but stranded seven Mustangs on the basepaths through the first four innings.
Upper Iowa claimed a 3-2 lead with three runs on just one hit in the bottom of the fourth chasing the SMSU starter Jimmy Callahan. UIU took advantage of an error, three walks and a hitbatsmen to send nine batters to the plate.
Eric Cottrell picked up an rbi-single and
Adam Budron hit a sac fly to center in the inning.
After giving up three runs, the Mustangs got them right back in the top of the fifth thanks to a leadoff homer by Austin Stubbs, an rbi-double off the bat of Jason Minett and an rbi-single from Cole VanderBeek. In the top of the seventh, SMSU pushed their lead to 6-3 on an rbi-single by Brian Redemske. The Mustangs were poised to put the game out of reach, but UIU got the final two outs and left the bases loaded.
The Peacocks scored one run in the bottom of the seventh after
Cody Booker led off with a bunt single and came home later in the inning on a single to center by
Mitch Moser. Moser stole second and third, but was stranded there.
When the bats returned to the plate trailing by two in the eighth, Cottrell opened the frame with a single to right. After two quick flyouts, Cottrell was still at first, but back-to-back walks to
Colton Janssen and Booker brought
Luis Ravelo to the plate. Ravelo delivered a single to center that scored two and tied the game, 6-6.
The Mustangs went quietly in the ninth and brought Upper Iowa back to the plate quickly with momentum on their side.
Jacob Greco drove his first hit of the day to the wall in right center for a double to open the inning. After an intentional walk to
Alex George, the Mustangs got the lead runner as Cottrell tried to bunt the runners over. After a strikeout, the Peacocks had runners on first and second with two outs. Budron stepped to the plate and after fouling a few pitches off, the Peacock leftfielder hit a line drive single to right center. The hit was all that George needed to come home and give UIU the winning run, 7-6.
Ross Kulick, who pitched the ninth inning, earned the win improving to 2-0 on the season, but
Matt Meulemans (2 ip, 4 hits, 1 run, 3 K's) and
Jordan Kearns (1.2 ip, 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 K) were vital in UIU's win. The pair of righthanded relievers got UIU through the middle innings without lettin SMSU build on their lead which gave the Peacock offense the time and opportunity they needed. Carstens got the no-decision with 4.1 innings allowing 5 runs on 7 hits, while striking out 3 and walking 4.
In the first game, the Mustangs pounded out 13 htis including five straight singles to open the game. SMSU had a 6-0 lead after just one half inning of baseball as they touched up UIU starter
Mason Buster for the half dozen runs on five hits and two Peacock fielding errors.
UIU got two runs back in the first inning thanks to a double from Ravelo, a single from Moser and a sac fly off the bat of Greco, but the Mustangs added three more runs on three hits in the third inning for a 9-2 lead heading to the bottom of the third. George picked up an rbi-single in the third to cut the gap back to six, 9-3.
The Mustangs continued to add to their tally with two runs in the fourth moving out to an 11-3 advantage. Greco picked up a second rbi in the first game on a ground out in the fifth inning, but SMSU got the run right back in the top of the sixth.
Trailing 12-4 in the seventh, Upper Iowa scored two runs on four hits including a Moser triple, a George single up the middle, an infield single for Cottrell and an rbi-single from Jacob Stenberg. The Peacocks left two on though as the Mustangs posted the 12-6 win.
After the six runs in the first inning, the other six runs scored by the visitors all came with two outs in the inning and the five runs scored in the third and fourth innings all came after the bases were empty and two outs had been recorded.
Mitch Wurm earned the win for the Mustangs with a complete game improving to 5-1 on the year. He allowed six runs, four earnred, on 11 hits while striking out 5 and walking none.
Buster took the loss for UIU allowing 9 runs, 8 were earned, on 8 hits to fall to 3-2 on the year.
Anthony Ruden allowed two runs in his 1.1 innings of work and
Sawyer Bawek allowed one run in his three innings to close out the game. While SMSU did not issue a walk, the Peacock pitchers combined for 8 free passes and two hit batsmen on the afternon.
The teams will get back together on Robertson Woods Field Sunday afternoon at noon for another double header.
