THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK SOFTBALL Upper Iowa (3-5) will play in dome for the second straight week as the Peacocks head to Rosemont, Ill. for the Lewis Flyer Dome Invitational. UIU will look to put last weekend's WSU Dome Invitational in the rearview mirror as the Peacocks dropped four games, three in which they had the lead and the other was tied. Upper Iowa will play four games in the dome this weekend, starting with William Jewell on Friday afternoon.
KEY NOTES TO CONSIDER 1 SWIPING BAGS: In eight games, the Peacocks have started the year 20-for-20 in the stolen bases. in 53 games last season, Upper Iowa only stole 59 bases in 74 attempts.
2 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM NEW PLAYERS: To start the season UIU has gotten solid contributions from new players like
Jenny Budds and
Tara Walls. Budds leads the team in RBI (7), walks (5) and is tied for third in runs scored (4). Walls is third on the team in batting average (.400), runs scored (4) and leads the team in sac bunts (3).
3 MARLINGHAUS MASHING: Peacock senior
Lauren Marlinghaus finished last weekend with a .625 batting average (5-8) with a pair home runs, four RBI and two runs scored. She recorded an on-base percentage of .625 and a slugging percentage of 1.375.
4 HOME RUN RECORD: UIU has a pair of Peacocks looking to break the Upper Iowa career home run record.
Erica Kirgan is currently tied for the most in school history with 24, while
Jacqueline Flood is just three behind her at 21 career bombs. The record was set at 24 by UIU Athletic Hall of Famer Chyanne Kleve.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS vs. WILLIAM JEWELL: The Cardinals are 4-4 to start the season. WJC went 2-2 at the 8-State Classic, but didn't meet the Peacocks at the tournament, then followed with a 2-2 mark at the NSU Softball Festival in Tahlequah, Okla.
vs. LEWIS: This weekend will be the first games of the year for the Flyers, who finished the 2015 season with a 27-22 record. Coming into the season, Lewis was picked to finish seventh in the GLVC Preseason Poll.
vs. ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD: The Prarie Stars have a 3-6 mark so far this season, including a 3-1 loss to the Peacocks at the 8-State Classic to start the year.
vs. MISSOURI S&T: The Miners are 0-8 overall to start the year, dropping all four games at the 8-State Classic, then fell in a pair of double headers to Northeastern State and Missouri Southern State.
