Peacock softball returned to the diamond for day two of the UAM 8-State Classic in Bentonville, Ark. on Saturday. Upper Iowa trailed 2-0 in the first inning to Missouri Western State in game one, and was unable to complete the comeback, eventually dropping a 5-4 decision. In game two against Illinois-Springfield, the Peacocks fell behind 3-0 in the third inning, eventually falling 4-1 to wrap up the day. UIU opens 2017 0-4, with two more games to play on Sunday in Arkansas.

Game 1
Freshman Emily Kisch got the start in the circle in game one against the Missouri Western State Griffons on Saturday, and followed her seven-inning effort on Friday with another complete game. The Peacock right hander fell behind early, allowing a leadoff triple to Morgan Rathmann in the first inning. Rathmann would eventually come around to score on a pass ball to put the Griffons up 1-0. The next batter Shelbie Atwell hit a solo home run to put MWSU up 2-0 two batters into the inning. Kisch responded by getting the next three batters in order, and UIU trailed by two after the first.

Upper Iowa responded in the third inning with a leadoff single from freshman Jordyn Brennan. After a Riley Kruel sacrifice bunt to move the runner, Sami Kay Shafranski singled and a throwing error allowed Brennan to score. UIU was on the board, trailing 2-1.

Missouri Western State responded in the bottom half of the frame, after a sacrifice fly from Katie Klosterman scored Rathmann. One batter later, Sydney Washington singled through the left side to plate one more, giving the Griffons a 4-1 lead after three innings.

The Griffons added another in the sixth. With runners on the corners and one out, MWSU's Jamison Koethe was caught stealing in between first and second. The runner at third scored on the throw from Peacock catcher Shannon Nix, and UIU trailed 5-1 heading to the final inning.

Julia Buffington and Ali Green put together back-to-back singles to start the rally for the Peacocks in the seventh. One batter later, Nix hit a three-run shot to center to pull UIU within one, 5-4. However, Brennan struck out and Kruel popped out to end the rally, falling just short of a comeback.

Kisch went the full six in the circle, allowing five earned on seven hits while striking out three and walking two.

 
Game Two
The Peacocks again fell behind early to the Illinois-Sprinfield Prairie Stars in game two on Saturday. UIS put together back-to-back home runs in the second inning from Ali Haesele and Erin Stroup off Upper Iowa pitcher Courtney Clayberg to go up 2-0.

Haesele added another RBI with a two-out double in the third inning to put Illinois-Springfield up 3-0, and the Peacock offense was unable to get anything going against Haesele. UIU was hitless through the first four innings. The Prairie Stars made a pitching change in the fifth, and Upper Iowa responded on offense.

Trailing 3-0 in the fifth, UIU used a leadoff double from Buffington to get the inning started. Green roped an RBI-single into center to get the Peacocks on the board, and would have another opportunity to score in the sixth. Sammy Garrett led off the inning with a walk, and after an infield error, Upper Iowa had first and second with one out. However, a strikeout and fly out would end the frame, and UIU still faced a two-run deficit heading to the final inning.

The Prairie Stars scored on an error in the top of the seventh, expanding their lead to 4-1. The Peacocks had a chance in the bottom half of the inning, putting runners on first and second with one out. But Karissa Akey flew out and Garrett grounded out to end the game.

Clayberg went the distance in her second start of 2017, allowing three earned runs on six hits while striking out two and walking two.