The Upper Iowa softball team wrapped up its home schedule on Tuesday against the #11 Mavericks of Minnesota State University, Mankato in Fayette. The Peacocks gave up an eight-run first inning in game one that was too much to overcome, and both teams exchanged scoreless inning the rest of the way in the 8-0, five-inning game. In game two, both pitchers were outstanding, with the visitors pushing across a run in the top of the seventh to survive the scare, 1-0. The series was originally scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in Fayette, but projected weather in the area moved the games to Tuesday. With the losses, Upper Iowa drops to 17-31 overall and 9-17 in the Northern Sun Conference. With the sweep, #11 MSU pushes their winning streak to 16 games, and improves to 46-6 overall and 24-2 in league play.

UIU will wrap up the season this coming weekend, April 29-30, as they head northwest to Moorhead, Minn. and Aberdeen, S.D. The Peacocks will meet the MSU Moorhead Dragons on Saturday at 1 p.m., before closing the season at the Northern State Wolves on Sunday at 12 p.m.

GAME ONE: #11 MSU 8 - UIU 0 (5 INN.)
The Mavericks used a big first inning to catapult to a big lead they would never surrender. MSU sent 12 batters to the plate, tallying 9 hits and scoring 8 runs in the process. Erin Drahozal started the game for UIU, but lasted just 0.2 innings before being replaced by freshman Emily Kisch. Kisch got the final out of the first and was terrific the rest of the day.

Maverick starter Coley Ries has been the story of the season in the Northern Sun Conference, and had thrown two consecutive perfect games coming into the game. Ries was perfect through the first three innings on Tuesday, but UIU was able to get a base runner via a bunt for a hit by Sami Kay Shafranski in the fourth inning. Upper Iowa would get three hits in the game, with Jordyn Brennan bunting for a hit as well and Shannon Nix getting a base knock through the left side in the late innings. Ries threw five scoreless for the shutout and her 24th win of the season in the opening game.

Kisch was phenomenal herself, not allowing a run in 4.1 innings. Head Coach Amanda Bradberry and Assistant Coach Kelly King decided to stick with Kisch in game two as well.

GAME TWO: #11 MSU 1 - UIU 0
Game two was a pitcher's duel the entire way between Kisch and MSU starter Libby Bemis. Both pitchers dodged traffic on the base paths en route to a scoreless first six innings of the game. Upper Iowa threatened right away to score in the first, loading the bases with one out, but a 1-2-3 ground ball double play ended the threat.

UIU had a chance in the third with a runner at third and one out, but back-to-back outs got Bemis out the jam and the Peacocks were forced to strand more base runners. Overall, both teams stranded nine base runners apiece in the game.

Kisch was spectacular once again, cruising through the game. The lone MSU run came in the seventh frame that got started with a leadoff walk. The ensuing batter laid down a potential bunt that UIU threw over the head of first baseman Tara Walls. The runners were safe at first and second, and then moved up 60 feet on a sacrifice bunt. A sacrifice fly to left field scored the unearned run, giving the Mavericks the lone run for the game. MSU's nine runs on the day came in just two of the 12 innings. Kisch did not allow an earned run on the day.

Ries came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh for MSU to earn her fourth save of the season in the 1-0 win for the visitors. Kisch dropped to 7-14 on the season, despite pitching 11.1 innings on the day, allowing just the one unearned run. It was Kisch's first outing of her career against a top-15 opponent, and the freshman cmae through in a big way.

Sammy Garrett led the Peacocks at the plate in game two, going 2-4 on offense. Brennan, Nix, and Riley Kruel eached tallied a hit as well.