The Peacock softball team opened up their 2017 season with a pair of defeats at the UAM 8-State Classic in Bentonville, Ark. on Friday. Upper Iowa held a 3-1 lead after four innings against Washburn, before the Ichabods scored 7 runs in the final three frames to top UIU 8-4. The Peacocks dropped a close 2-1 decision to Ouachita Baptist later in the day, and begin their season 0-2.

Game 1
Upper Iowa and Washburn were scoreless through the first two innings, with Courtney Clayberg leading the charge in the circle for UIU, who was the home team in game one.  The Ichabods broke the scoring seal in the third inning after Ashley Ruder tripled to right field to score a run. In the bottom of the fourth, the Peacocks answered with three consecutive singles including an RBI knock from Tara Walls to score Sami Kay Shafranski. After Katie Sammons reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases, Julia Buffington drew a walk to give Upper Iowa the 2-1 lead.
 
With the bags packed for the second time in the inning, catcher Shannon Nix drew another bases-loaded walk to plate the third run of the inning and give UIU the 3-1 lead. However, Washburn answered back in the fifth by loading the bases themselves. Taylor Kemp was hit by the Clayberg pitch to bring in a run and cut the lead to one. The next batter, Jordan Erickson, roped a two-RBI single up the middle to plate to more runners and give the Ichabods the lead. Upper Iowa would even the game in the bottom of the frame, however, with their third bases-loaded walk of the game. Jenny Budds drew the base-on-balls and tied the game at four.
 
Washburn exploded for three more runs in the sixth, forcing UIU Head Coach Amanda Bradberry to make a pitching change, with Erin Drahozal replacing Clayberg. A hit-by-pitch, fielder's choice, and RBI-single would plate the next three runs to give the Ichabods a 7-4 lead. Washburn added one more in the seventh to secure the 8-4 win.
 
Clayberg takes the loss after tossing 5.1 innings of work, allowing 7 earned runs and 4 hits while striking out a pair and walking 5.
 

Game Two
Upper Iowa jumped on the board first in game two in what would become a pitcher's dual to the end. Riley Kruel walked and stole second to lead off the inning, and two batter later, Sammy Garrett picked up an RBI-single to right field to give the Peacocks the early 1-0 advantage.
 
Daniella Brantley launched a solo shot to lead off the second inning off of Peacock pitcher Emily Kisch, who would go the distance in her first start of the season. Ouachita Baptist tied the game 1-1, and would use the long ball to take the lead in the fourth inning. Macy Nantz hit a solo blast with one out in the frame to take the lead 2-1, and that would be enough for the win.
 
Upper Iowa would leave runners on base in the second, fourth, and seventh innings in the one-run defeat. In the final inning, Nix hit a one-out single, and Drahozal would pinch-running. Drahozal advanced to second on a pass ball with one away, but a ground out and fly out would end the game.
 
Kisch went 7 innings of two-run softball in her first collegiate start, allowing seven hits in the game. The Elgin, Ill. product struck out two and walked two while facing 25 batters in the game.