The Peacocks and Warriors of Winona State University split a pair of Northern Sun Conference baseball games in Fayette on Wednesday. Upper Iowa won the first game 9-6, but dropped the second game 10-5 after the Warriors scored three runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to break a 4-4 tie.
Upper Iowa got on the scoreboard with a run in the first inning.
Anthony Calton reached on an error and moved to third when
Jacob Greco hit a double to the leftfield corner.
Alex George notched an rbi with a sac fly to right sending Calton to the plate.
Winona State loaded the bases with no outs in the third inning, but only got one run thanks to a clean double play turned by the UIU shortstop Luis Ravelo.
Cody Booker led the bottom of the third off with a double off the wall in right and came home on a single to right by Calton. The Peacocks then broke the game open with five runs on five hits in the fourth inning highlighted by an rbi-walk by Booker, a two-run single by Calton, and an rbi-single from Greco.
Upper Iowa added two more runs in the fifth inning to take a 9-1 lead. With one out,
Emmett Kulick walked and moved to third on a single to right by Ravelo. Kulick then came home when Winona State tried to catch Ravelo stealing second base. Booker chased Ravelo home when he doubled down the right field line just inside the first base bag.
Winona State made it interesting in the seventh with five runs on four hits including a three-run double off the bat of Michael Hommes, but
Garrison Becker got the final out he needed to earn the complete game victory.
Becker, a senior righty, threw 7 innings to earn the complete game victory after allowing six runs on seven hits while walking seven and striking out seven to improve to 2-1 on the season.
The top three spots in the batting order did the damage with two hits from Booker and Calton and three from Greco. Ravelo added two hits at the bottom of the lineup. Calton led the way in run production with three rbi.
Winona State scored a run with their first two batters in game two thanks to a walk and a double to the gap in left center by Ryan Nyhagen.
The Peacocks answered with a run in the second taking advantage of a pair of fielding errors and a wild pitch to tie the game at 1-1.
After the Warriors scored two runs in the top of the fourth, the Peacocks answered with three of their own in the bottom of the frame. Ravelo led off with a single and moved to second on a third fielding error for the Warriors. A beautiful bunt single from Calton loaded the bases with no outs.
Alex George picked up an rbi after being hit by a pitch, Stenberg grounded in a run and Janssen singled in a run to give the Peacocks the one-run advantage 4-3.
Winona State wasted no time in tying the game again at 4-4 with a run in the fifth inning after Nyhagen was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on a wild pitch and single and came home on a sac fly by Mitch Voter.
In the sixth, the Warriors loaded the bases with one out and Jesus Cazares doubled to right centerfield to bring in two runs. Mitch Voter followed with a sac fly to the wall in left to plate the third run of the inning and give the visitors a 7-4 lead.
Greco walked to open the sixth and got to third base on a double to right by George. After an out, Janssen pushed Greco home to cut the gap to 7-5. The Warriors got the final two outs and left UIU runners on the corners.
The Warriors stuck three more runs on the board in the top of the seventh thanks to four singles including a two-run single from Hommes to claim a 10-5 advantage.
The 4,5,6 hitters provided the spark for the Peacocks in game two. George and Stenberg each had two hits, while Janssen had three hits and a pair of rbi in the second game.
Zach Cain left the game after the fifth allowing four runs on seven hits to claim the no-decison.
Miguel Rodriguez (0-2) took the loss and left due to injury; the freshman allowed three runs in the sixth while recording just one out.
Ethan Eckelberg gave up three more in the seventh inning prior to
Sawyer Bawek closing the door in the eighth and ninth innings on just one hit.
Upper Iowa will close out their regular season at home on Friday and Saturday with both sets of double headers set for 1 p.m. starts. The Peacocks will welcome the Wildcats of Wayne State College.
