Upper Iowa closed out the road portion of their regular season in Mankato, Minn. on the diamond across from the #12 Mavericks of Minnesota State University, Mankato. The Peacocks lost a close 3-0 game and then the MSU bats turned up in the second game winning 12-2 to sweep the four-game series. UIU falls to 18-26 overall and 14-22 in the NSIC, while Minnesota State is now 38-8 overall and 33-3 against conference foes.
Senior
Mitch Moser (2-2) made his first start of the season on Saturday in game one and turned in a quality start. Injuries at the end of the 2016 season limited Moser's arm this season and the senior spent his time at second base and climbing the hill for an inning of relief. He threw 5 innings allowing just 2 runs on 5 hits while striking out 5 Mavericks.
Tanner Poor threw an inning in relief and allowed a run on two hits.
Minnesota State scored a run in the third, fourth and fifth innings while keeping Upper Iowa off the scoreboard and the bases in general. Dylan Roach dominated the game to improve to 8-0 with a complete-game, one-hitter. The Maverick pitcher took a perfect game into the seventh inning. UIU's only hit and baserunner came on an
Anthony Calton triple to lead off the seventh inning, but a Roach worked around to preserve the shutout.
In the second game, the home team put up 12 runs on 12 hits including two runs in the first, three in the third, two more in the fourth, fifth and sixth and one final run in the seventh to end the game via the NSIC run-rule.
The Peacocks tallied five hits in the second game with Moser leading the way with a single and a double.
Colton Janssen,
Emmett Kulick and
Dominic Hillesheim all picked up one hit in the game.
The two runs for UIU came in the fifth inning. Janssen doubled to open the inning and came home when Moser followed with a double. After a strikeout, Hillesheim doubled to left to chase Moser to the plate.
Jay Kiel (1-3) got the start in the series finale, but allowed 5 runs on 5 hits and a pair of walks in his 3 innings.
Clayton Lieb,
Ross Kulick,
Nate Skare and
Miguel Rodriguez all took their turn on the mound for UIU and each gave up a run to the Mavericks.
Upper Iowa will host the Beavers of Minot State University next Friday and Saturday, May 5-6 at Robertson Woods Field in Fayette. The games are UIU's final games in the 2017 regular season and the Peacock seniors will be recognized between games on Saturday.
