The Peacock softball team traveled down to Hays, Kan. this weekend for four games at the Fort Hays State Crossover Tournament, and UIU earned a split on day one. Upper Iowa went down in defeat for the first time this season to the No. 15 Lady Bisons of Harding University before bouncing back with a victory over the Lopers of the University of Nebraska at Kearney. With the split, UIU now its at 5-1 on the young season.
Upper Iowa will wrap up the tournament on Sunday, Feb. 18 with a doubleheader. The Peacocks will match up with the Hillcats of Rogers State University at 9 a.m. before wrapping up the day with an 11 a.m. start with the host Tigers of Fort Hays State.
Game 1: #15 Harding 2 - Upper Iowa 0
Emily Kisch went six strong innings against the #15 Harding Lady Bisons, but unfortunately, the difference was the pitching for the home team on the scoreboard. Harding limited the Peacock offense to just two total hits while being shutout for the first time this season. Kisch, however, allowed just two earned runs on seven hits in her outing, and drops to 2-1 on the season.
An rbi-double to left center in the fourth inning broke the scoreless tie, and a solo shot in the fifth inning gave the Lady Bisons a 2-0 lead they would not surrender. UIU struggled to get base runners in game one, went 1-2-3 in the seventh inning to drop the opening game.
Game 2: Upper Iowa 7 - Nebraska-Kearney 0
The shutout went the other direction in game two for the Peacocks, as the offense came to life to back up starting pitcher
Jaclyn Thompson. Thompson went seven strong innings allowing just one hit and three walks in her first shutout at Upper Iowa. The offense opened it up in the second inning to get things started.
A throwing error in the field off a ground ball from Kisch allowed the first run to score for Upper Iowa in the second frame, and UIU would carry that momentum into the third inning.
Katie Crogan roped a two-run single to right field to score
Jenny Budds and
Amanda Williams. With the 3-0 lead,
Julia Buffington stepped up to the plate and delivered a two-run homerun to push the lead to 5-0.
The Peacocks added insurance in the fifth when Crogan pushed another run-scoring single through the left side, and Buffington added another RBI to her total with a single up the middle. UIU held a commanding 7-0 lead at that point, and with Thompson in the circle, the game was well over at that point.
Crogan led Upper Iowa with a 3-3 performance at the plate, and tied Buffington with the team-lead with 3 rbi apiece. Buffington's two-hit added to her exceptional start to the year, as she leads the team in runs driven in. UIU tallied nine hits in the victory, and will look to continue their success on Sunday.
