Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The Upper Iowa softball team earned its 29th win of the year with a 7-1 victory in game one against the Northern State Wolves, setting a new school record for wins in a single season. The Wolves took game two, 6-1, for the split. UIU is now 29-13 overall and 15-5 in Northern Sun Conference play after the split, just three wins away from tying the school record for conference wins in a season which was set last year. NSU moved to 20-26 and 10-12 in the NSIC.

Big innings ruled the day as the Peacocks road a six-run first inning in game one to the 7-1 victory, while the Wolves had a five-run fifth inning in game two to propel themselves to the 6-1 win.

The Peacocks will be back in action tomorrow, Sunday, Apr. 17, for a doubleheader against the Minnesota State Moorhead Dragons. It is Senior Day and UIU will honor its six seniors, Mara Jones, Tara Duran, Lauren Marlinghaus, Erica Kirgan, Brooke Redmond and Jacqueline Flood, between the games. First pitch is slated for noon.

Game 1: Upper Iowa 7, Northern State 1

The Peacocks wasted no time getting on the board in game one as UIU batted around in the bottom of the first and scored six runs on five hits. Riley Kruel got the inning started with a single to left and two batters later, Flood roped a double off the top of the wall to give the Peacocks runners on second and third with one out. Kirgan brought the first run home with a single through the right side to give UIU a 1-0 lead. A couple batters late, Duran drew a two-out walk to load the bases and Marlinghaus kept the inning going with an RBI single to left to make it 2-0. Katie Sammons followed with an RBI walk to bring home another run, before Sammy Garrett had the biggest hit of the inning, a bases clearing double to left center that pushed the Peacock lead to 6-0.

In the top of the second, the Wolves scratched the scoreboard for the first time as an unearned run came across home. The lead-off hitter reached on an error and two batters later came home on a single through the right side to make it 6-1. 

The Wolves looked to continue to chip away at the Peacock lead in the top of the fourth. NSU started the inning with a lead-off single, but quickly found themselves with a runner at first and two outs. After another single and a hit batter, however, the bases were just as quickly loaded. But Flood worked out of the jam and got the next hitter to foul out to first, ending the Northern State rally.

UIU added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when the Peacocks loaded the bases with no outs. Garrett and Kruel started the inning with singles and Jenny Budds reached on a fielder's choice and an error that resulted in the bases loaded. With Flood batting, a wild pitch brought Garrett home for Upper Iowa's seventh run. Flood was then intentionally walked to load the bases again. Kirgan came up next and hit a rocket of a line drive, but it was right at the NSU second baseman and resulted in a double play. Tara Walls then drew a walk to load the bases once again, but the Wolves got a strike out to end the inning. 

After the scare in the fourth, Flood (14-7) retired the Wolves in order over the final three innings to secure her 14th win of the year. The Peacock right-handed pitcher threw a complete game and allowed just one unearned run on three hits, while striking out three. 

Marlinghaus led Upper Iowa at the plate in game one as she was a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Flood, Kruel and Garrett each added a pair of hits and a run scored, while Garrett led UIU with three RBI.

Game 2: Northern State 6, Upper Iowa 1

Game two was a pitchers duel that went sour for the Peacocks. After three empty innings to start the game, NSU got a towering blast of a home run off the bat of catcher Macey Engel to break the scoreless tie in the top of the fourth. 

In the top of the fifth, the Wolves added five runs to their tally courtesy of four hits and two errors by the Peacock defense. All five runs were unearned, including an error with two outs and the bases loaded that resulted in the three runs for NSU. 

UIU tried to rally in the bottom of the fifth as Walls led off with a double to right center. With two outs, Sammons singled Walls home, but that would be it for the Peacocks. 

Brooke Redmond (14-4) took the tough-luck loss as she surrendered six runs, just one earned, on eight hits. The Basehor, Kansas native struck out nine Wolves and walked a pair.

The Peacocks were outhit 8-4 in the second game. Walls led UIU as she went 2-for-3 with a run scored.