The Upper Iowa softball team finished up a busy week on the diamond on Friday with a doubleheader against the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs at the Eischeid Softball Complex. The teams moved the doubleheader up to 10 a.m. to avoid the potential rain in the area, and were able to get the two games in before the weather hit. Game one featured an outstanding pitching dual that saw the Peacocks come up with their second consecutive walk-off win. UIU walked off in the seventh to earn the 1-0 win before the visitors were able to put some runs on the board in game two. With the split, UIU is now 15-25 overall and 7-11 in the Northern Sun Conference, while the Bulldogs are now 29-13 overall and 13-5 in league play.
 

Upper Iowa celebrated Strikeout Melanoma Day in support of Melanoma research. The team wore special uniforms with a black Melanoma ribbon on the front, and are auctioning the jerseys off over the next few days. The auction can be found here. Sophomore Erin Drahozal caught the ceremonial first pitch from her mother Kelly, who is battling Melanoma herself. It was a special moment prior to game one as the team honored a member of the Peacock family. 

The Peacocks are scheduled to play at Wayne State College next Tuesday, Apr.18 before returning to the Eischeid Softball Complex in Fayette for a pair of double headers against Minot State University and the University of Mary on Saturday and Sunday, Apr. 22-23.

GAME ONE: UIU 1 - UMD 0
Drahozal and Minnesota Duluth's Sam Hartmann put on a great pitching clinic in game one combining for 13.2 innings in the circle and one run on eight hits. Fortunately, for the Peacocks the run was their score and earned them a second-straight walkoff victory. 

In the bottom of the seventh, Shannon Nix doubled to the gap in left center field with one out to give the home team just their third player to reach second in the game. Jenny Budds went to second to pinch run. After an infield pop out, Julia Buffington knocked a single out to right field and Budds raced home beating the throw and slapping the plate to notch the game's only run.

The Bulldogs didn't reach second base until the top of the seventh inning thanks to a single and walk. Drahozal ended the only UMD threat with a strikeout to strand both runners.

Drahozal got the win improving to 5-8 with the complete game, three-hitter; the righty struck out three Bulldogs. Hartmann took the tough loss to fall to 11-6 on the year after allowing the run on five Peacock hits while striking out three UIU batters.

GAME TWO: UMD 6 - UIU 0
The Bulldogs scored four unearned runs in the first four innings on five hits and four Peacock errors. The highlight for UMD came in the first inning when Sammi Sadler singled to left center to plate a pair of teammates after an infield error extended the inning. UMD scored two in the first, one in the third and one more in the fourth. 

The visitors added their first earned run of the game in fifth inning on a pair of singles around a ground out gave Minnesota Duluth a 5-0 lead. Sadler singled with one out and scored from second on a single by Hannah Bloch.

Sadler doubled off the fence in left center to force UMD's sixth run of the game home. The Bulldogs looked for more in the inning, but the Peacocks got a pair of force outs at the plate to end the inning without further damage.

Valerie Hohol scattered six hits to improve to 12-2 on the year while striking out three Peacocks. Sadler tallied three hits in the game and Lauren Oberle had a pair of base knocks.

Courtney Clayberg suffered the loss falling to 4-6 after allowing a pair of unearned runs in the first inning. Emily Kisch threw 6.1 innings in relief allowing four runs, two earned, on seven hits. Six different Peacocks reached on singles; Jordyn Brennan was the lone Peacock to reach twice after singling and being hit by a pitch.