THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK SOFTBALL…
Upper Iowa (15-25) will head west to Wayne, Neb. for a midweek doubleheader before heading back to the Eischeid Softball Complex in Fayette for Senior Weekend. It's a pivotal week for the Peacocks, as they currently sit a game out in the standings of the top 10 in the Northern Sun Conference; the top 10 teams make the conference tournament at the end of the season. UIU will recognize their seniors at home on Sunday against the U-Mary Marauders. The games over the weekend will be available online on UIU TV, and the games will be broadcast in eastern Iowa on KCRG TV 9.2 on Saturday and 9.3 on Sunday.
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| GAMES 41-42 |
GAMES 43-44 |
GAMES 45-46 |
| AT WAYNE STATE |
VS. MINOT STATE |
VS. U-MARY |
| TUESDAY, APRIL 18 |
SATURDAY, APRIL 21 |
SUNDAY, APRIL 22 |
| 2 P.M. |
1 P.M. || KCRG TV 9.2 |
12 P.M. || KCRG TV. 9.3 |
| WAYNE, NEB. |
FAYETTE, IOWA |
FAYETTE, IOWA |
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PEACOCK STORYLINES...
LATE-GAME MAGIC LEADS TO SPLITS: The Peacocks were involved a few wild games in Fayette last week against St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth. On Thursday afternoon against SCSU, Upper Iowa held a 3-1 lead in game one before allowing a six-run seventh inning to drop the opener 7-3. A pitcher's duel took place in game two, with UIU holding a 1-0 lead for the majority of the game. But another SCSU comeback tied it in the seventh, and the game went to extras. UIU walked off in the bottom of the tenth inning to earn the win. On Friday against UMD, the Peacocks were involved in another outstanding pitching day. UIU walked off in the seventh to earn the 1-0 win behind Erin Drahozal's gem before the visitors were able to put up some runs in a 6-0 loss in game two.
CENTURY MARK: Upper Iowa Head Coach Amanda Bradberry picked up her 100th win on Friday in game one against the Bulldogs. The fourth-year head coach earned her milestone win in walk-off fashion, and earned her 59th Northern Sun Conference win as well. Bradberry has a .630 winning percentage at home as well, winning 34 game at the Eischeid Softball Complex.
ERIN & COURTNEY, INC.: Erin Drahozal and Courtney Clayberg put together their best pitching performances of their careers last week at home. Clayberg pitched in game two against St. Cloud State, allowing one run (unearned) in 10 innings of work. The sophomore from Ankeny, Iowa allowed four total hits while striking out a pair of batters. Drahozal pitched in an emotional day on Friday, after catching the ceremonial first pitch from her mother Kelly on Strikeout Melanoma Day. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa native tossed seven shutout innings, allowing three hits in the process while striking out three as well.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS…
WAYNE STATE: The Wildcats (10-32, 4-14 NSIC) went 3-3 during the week, earning a split at Sioux Falls, winning twice at MSU Moorhead, and losing twice at Northern State. Senior first baseman Melanie Alyea hit .545 for the week (12-22) with three doubles and five RBI to lead the Cats. Alyea hit safely in all six games, with four multi-hit games as well.
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MINOT STATE: The Beavers (17-14, 9-9 NSIC) went 4-2 during a six-game home stand including their second sweep of two NSIC games, topping the University of Sioux Falls twice Friday. The USF series helped Minot State pull even in conference play since early in the season. MSU hit five home runs and only gave up one home run during the week.
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U-MARY: The Marauders (14-29, 8-10 NSIC) have now won 8 of their last 12 games, including a midweek sweep of Northern State. U-Mary moved into a tie for 10th in NSIC with Southwest Minnesota State, and are in a pivotal spot with four of its final six doubleheaders are against teams behind them in the NSIC standings.
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