The Peacock softball team wrapped up the FHSU Crossover Tourament on Sunday with a morning split against the Hillcats of Rogers State University and the Tigers of Fort Hays State University. Upper Iowa recorded 23 hits on the day, and after dropping game one 9-3 to RSU, the team bounced back with an 8-3 win of their own over the hosts FHSU. With the split, the Peacocks improve to 6-2 on the season after two tournaments.

UIU will now head south for Spring Break to the Rebel Spring Games in Clermont, Fla. Upper Iowa will play eight games in four days, March 3-7. The trip begins with games against Nova Southeastern and The College of Saint Rose on March 3 at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. eastern time.

Game 1: Rogers State 9 - Upper Iowa 3
After allowing an initial run in the first inning, the Peacocks bounced back in the home half of the second to tie it with a run-scoring double from sophomore Jordyn Brennan. Jenna Moody came around to score to lock the game at one apiece. However, Rogers State reclaimed the lead in the fourth with a solo home run. The Hillcats added to their lead in the fifth with a two-run blast, and the visitors on the scoreboard would not look back.

Upper Iowa got within a run in their half of the fifth inning, when Jenny Budds homered down the left field line to get within 4-2. An inning later, Shannon Nix picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly to score teammate Julia Buffington. The Peacocks trailed by just one, 4-3, but a big seventh inning was in store for the Hillcats.

A five-run inning against Emily Kisch and Erin Drahozal gave Roger State a commanding 9-3 lead, and Kisch would take the loss in game one. The sophomore went 6.1 innings allowing eight earned on seven hits. Offensively, Budds led the way with three hits, a run driven in, and a run scored.

Game 2: Upper Iowa 8 - Fort Hays State 3
Jaclyn Thompson stepped into the circle in game two for the Peacocks, and delivered with six shutout innings before allowing three in the final frame. Thompson improves to 3-0 on the season with 7 strong, allowing three runs on five hits. The transfer struck out five and walked four batters on the day.

The offense got started in the third inning, when Budds added her second RBI of the day on an infield single to the pitcher. Katie Crogan followed it up with a run-scoring single up the middle, and the Peacocks held the 2-0 advantage. UIU was at it again in the fourth inning, when Brennan notched a two-run single up the box to extend the lead to 4-0. Drahozal and Nix each scored, and the offense was in a rhythm.

Brennan was at it again in the sixth with a two-run shot the opposite way down the left-field line. The sophomore finished with five driven in on Sunday to lead the Peacocks. In the seventh, more runs were scored when Drahozal picked up an RBI-double and Michaela Schumacher added a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 9-0. After the three-run inning for Fort Hays State, Upper Iowa walked out of the host city with an 8-3 victory.