Upper Iowa and Winona State split a pair of NSIC games in Fayette on Tuesday afternoon. UIU's pitching continued to impress as they held the Warrior offense to seven runs over 16 innings. WSU's pitching was just a bit better in the opener holding UIU to two runs on two hits, while coming from behind in the final inning to steal a victory in the first game.  The Peacock bats came alive in game two in support of UIU's six pitchers. After the split, UIU is now 13-15 overall and 9-11 in the NSIC, while WSU moves to 9-23 overall and 9-13 in the conference.

The Peacocks opened the scoring in the first inning of game one when Anthony Calton walked with one out and came home on a double down the left field line off the bat of Jacob Greco.

Winona State looked like they might have the early answer in the second after putting runners on the corners with no outs, but a double play started by third baseman Colton Janssen held the Warriors off the scoreboard.

The Peacocks and Warriors were held scoreless by Zackary Cain and Lucas Crimmins through the middle of the fifth inning, but in the bottom of the frame Mitch Moser led off with a double down the left field line. The Warriors didn't execute on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Dominic Hillesheim and left runners on first and third with no outs. Callahan Seehase then stepped in looking to lay down a sac bunt and Moser raced home  from third on a squeeze. Crimmins got to the ball, but couldn't complete a good toss to the plate and Moser found his way to the plate after a collision at the dish.  Later in the inning, the Peacocks had runners on second and third with two outs, but Crimmins ended the threat with a strikeout.

Upper Iowa took their 2-0 lead into the seventh inning where Mitch Moser gave up a pair of walks around a ground out and a deep fly ball. With runners on first and second and two down Nathan Krause singled to center to plate a run leave Warriors on second and third. A fielding error off the glove of Luis Ravelo allowed a pair of runs to score and give Winona State their first lead of the day 3-2.

Moser opened the bottom of the seventh with a walk and advanced to third on a sac bunt by Hillesheim and a ground out by Seehase. But a deep fly by Ravelo ended the rally.

Crimmins (1-4) earned the complete game victory after holding the Peacocks to a pair of runs, only one earned, on just two hits while striking out six Peacocks.

Cain took the no-decision after six scoreless innings on the hill; the sophomore struck out a pair of Warriors while scattering three hits. Moser (2-1) took the loss with three runs allowed, only one was earned, in his inning of work.

In the second game, Winona State got on the board in the second inning after a leadoff single by Jesus Cazares. With one out in the inning, Sam Kohnle hit a sac fly to center to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. It looked like the Warriors might add a second run in the inning on a single to left by Derek Martin, but Calton threw a shot to the plate and Hillesheim applied the tag to the runner's leg as it bounced over the plate.

In the third inning an error on the Warrior infield opened the door for the Peacocks. A hit and run with Ravelo at the plate resulted in runners on the corners with two outs after he singled to right. Calton was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but a foul fly ball was pulled in wide of first base and ended the Peacock threat.

The Warriors got a pair of walks to open the fifth inning and moved them to second and third with a sac bunt, but Tanner Poor got out of the jam with a strikeout and a flyout to keep the Peacocks within one.

Three straight singles by Seehaase, Ravelo and Calton to open the fifth tied the game at 1-1. After Calton's rbi single, a fourth single with one out by Greco set up the home team with the bases full of Peacocks. A wild pitch put UIU ahead 2-1 and left a pair in scoring position. Cain flew out to center to plate Calton on the sac fly and give Upper Iowa a two-run advantage. 

Ryan Munoz took the mound for Upper Iowa in the sixth. WSU threatened again with runners on the corners and no outs, but a ground out back to the Munoz and a double play ended the inning and maintained UIU's 3-1 lead.

For the third straight inning, the Peacocks played with fire and survived in the seventh. The Warriors had the bases loaded with one out, but Parker Kray got the final two outs on a strikeout and a grounder to second as UIU continued to cling to their 3-1 lead.

Upper Iowa pushed their lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the seventh with one out. Calton was hit by a pitch, George singled to left and Greco walked to load the bases. Cain delivered a pair of Peacocks to the plate with his third hit of the game. After a call to the pen by WSU, Janssen walked to load the bases again and Moser sent another run across with a single to left. Hillesheim picked up an rbi with a grounder to third pushing the lead to 7-1 heading into the final two innings.

The Warriors cut the lead to 7-3 in the eighth with a pair of runs on a throwing error on the infield after a diving catch in center by Seehase and an rbi single by Martin. 

Three straight singles by Calton, George and Greco pushed a run across in the eighth to put the Peacocks ahead 8-3 heading into the final inning.

Winona State got a pair of doubles in the ninth to put one on the board, but a flyout to center ended the game and gave UIU an 8-4 win.

Tanner Poor (2-0) earned the win in relief with three scoreless innings while allowing just two hits. Jay Kiel started and gave up one run in two innings. Four pitchers (Ryan Munoz, Ross Kulick, Parker Kray and Mitch Silberstein) combined for four innings of relief allowing three runs, two earned, on six hits while recording a pair of strikeouts.

Cain led the way on offense with three hits and three rbi, while Calton, George, Greco and Ravelo all had two hits apiece. In total the Peacocks registered 13 hits in the game.

Upper Iowa will remain at home this Friday and Saturday, Apr. 14-15 for a four-game series against the Golden Eagles of the University of Minnesota Crookston. The pair of Northern Sun Conference double headers will begin at noon each day.