THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK SOFTBALL…
Upper Iowa opens their 2017 season at the UAM 8-State NCAA Division II Softball Classic down in Bentonville, Arkansas this weekend. The Peacocks will play six games in three days, beginning with the Washburn Ichabods on Friday, Feb. 17 at 11 a.m. and the Ouachita Baptist Tigers at 3 p.m. UIU will battle the Missouri Western State Griffons on day two at 11 a.m. before taking on the Illinois-Springfield Prairie Stars at 3 p.m. The final day opens with the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers at 9 a.m. Sunday morning, before taking on the host Weevils from Arkansas-Monticello at 11 a.m. to close the classic.
| GAME ONE |
GAME TWO |
GAME THREE |
GAME FOUR |
GAME FIVE |
GAME SIX |
| WASHBURN |
OUACHITA BAPTIST |
MISSOURI WESTERN STATE |
ILLINOIS-SPRINGFIELD |
NEBRASKA-KEARNEY |
ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO |
| FRIDAY, FEB. 17 |
FRIDAY, FEB. 17 |
SATURDAY, FEB. 18 |
SATURDAY, FEB. 18 |
SUNDAY, FEB. 19 |
SUNDAY, FEB. 19 |
| 11 A.M. |
3 P.M. |
11 A.M. |
3 P.M. |
9 A.M. |
11 A.M. |
PEACOCK STORYLINES...
HISTORIC CAMPAIGN: Upper Iowa shattered the school record for wins in a season with 41 in 2016, surpassing the previous record of 28. The Peacocks reached the NCAA regional final, falling to #7 Arkansas Tech, 1-0. UIU finished tied for second with a school-record 21 conference wins. The Peacocks qualified for the NCAA Central Region Tournament for the first time in program history after winning the NSIC Tournament, also a first.
NSIC PRESEASON POLL: The Peacocks were picked seventh in the 16-team league after accumulating 138 points in the NSIC preseason coaches poll. The defending NSIC regular season champions of Minnesota State were the unanimous pick to win the conference.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: A pair of Peacocks, outfielder
Sammy Garrett and pitcher
Courtney Clayberg, were named NSIC Players to Watch for the 2017 season. Garrett has played and started in 115 games in her career over her first three years with the Peacocks. The Ottumwa, Iowa native is a career .310 hitter with 90 hits in 290 at bats including 13 doubles and 6 homeruns, and was a Second Team All-NSIC performer a year ago.
RETURNERS: The Peacocks return six starters from last year's squad, including senior
Riley Kruel, the NSIC's Gold Glove Award winner at shortstop last season. This year's squad also includes
Katie Sammons,
Tara Walls,
Sami Kay Shafranski, and
Erin Drahozal.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS…
WASHBURN: The Ichabods (2-9) picked up their first two wins of the season at the West Texas A&M Invite over Chadron State (8-0) and Fort Lewis (8-6).
OUACHITA BAPTIST: The Tigers (5-1) have won four in a row, including a pair of home wins on Wednesday over Williams Baptist College.
MISSOURI WESTERN STATE: The Griffons (6-2) opened with a four-game winning streak at the HSU/OBU Ronnie Hawkins Invitational, but dropped two straight to follow. MWSU has won two in a row, over Henderson State and #11 Arkansas Tech.
ILLINOIS-SPRINGFIELD: The Prairie Stars open their season at the UAM 8-State Classic this weekend.
NEBRASKA-KEARNEY: The Lopers (0-10) dropped all six games at the Kelly Laas Memorial Invite in St. Cloud, Minn. last weekend.
ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO: The Weevils (2-2) will host their second consecutive tournament after splittin their first four games at the DII Challenge last weekend.
