The Peacock softball team returned to Fayette for the first time in 2018 after 26 games away from the friendly confines of the Eischeid Softball Complex. Mother Nature finally cooperated with Upper Iowa, allowing them to play their midweek doubleheader with the Golden Bears of Concordia University, St. Paul. It was a wild day of softball, with the Golden Bears leading for 13 of the 15 innings played Wednesday, including all seven innings in the opener. CSP put together a 7-3 win in game one, and led 3-0 for most of the second game. However, UIU put together a come-from-behind win in extra innings to earn the split. Upper Iowa now sits at 15-13 overall and 2-6 in the Northern Sun Conference, while the Concordia-St. Paul moves to 20-16 overall and 5-9 in league play.

UIU will be back in action on Friday, Apr. 13 when they head to St. Cloud, Minn. for a doubleheader with the Bulldogs of the University of Minnesota Duluth. The games begin at 9 a.m. in the SCSU Dome. On Saturday, Apr. 14, the team will take on the host Huskies of St. Cloud State, with the double dip beginning at 10 a.m.

Game 1: CSP 7 - UIU 3
The Golden Bears were in control right from the beginning of game one Wednesday, and it started in the first inning. CSP did not score, but they did load the bases against Peacock starter Erin Drahozal. Despite not plating a run, it set the tone for a busy day on the base paths for the Golden Bears. A run-scoring single in the second inning gave the visitors the lead they would not relinquish.

Upper Iowa made some mistakes defensively in the third inning, beginning with an error at short stop to start the frame. With the bases loaded, a wild pitch by Drahozal scored a run, and a mistake on the throw back to the pitcher allowed another run to score. An rbi-groundout plated a third run in the inning, giving CSP a commanding 4-0 lead. It expanded in the fourth, with another three-spot by the Golden Bears. A stolen base and a throwing error allowed another run in, and then the big blow came in the form of a two-run home run by Haley Schanks. CSP led 7-0, and would not look back.

In the fifth inning, the Peacocks looked to get back in the game, and did so, scoring three times. Back-to-back singles by Jordyn Brennan and Katie Crogan plated the three runs to get within 7-3. However, the team would go down in order in the sixth and would fall short in the seventh to fall 7-3.

Drahozal took the loss, allowing four runs (two earned) in three innings of work. Emily Kisch pitched four innings of relief work, allowing three runs, but just two earned as well. Offensively, Drahozal and Jenny Budds each tallied two hits apiece.

Game 2: UIU 4 - CSP 3 (8 Inn.)
The visitors were in control again in game two, scoring right away in the first inning. A three-run home run by Aryka Knoche put the Golden Bears on top right away once again, and it appeared as though CSP was on their way to a sweep. But this time, Upper Iowa had a comeback in them.

Sydney Wilcox got the start for the Peacocks in the second game, and went three innings, allowing just the three-run homer. UIU got a big-time performance in relief by junior transfer Jaclyn Thompson, who pitched five innings allowing no runs and just two hits. Thompson worked around three walks, but countered it with four strikeouts to get out of a couple jams in relief as well.

While the pitching kept the Peacocks in the game, they needed some offense and a little help to bring the game to a tie. Trailing 3-0 in the third inning, Crogan stepped up in a run-scoring spot with a runner at third and less than two outs. A groundout scored the run, pulling UIU within two, 3-1. Crogan would prove to be a big part of the offense late in the game as well.

In the sixth, the home team threated with a single and a walk to get the first two aboard. Shannon Nix then used a sacrifice bunt to put the runners in scoring position, and had a chance to tie the game. All of a sudden, a case of the walks hit the Golden Bears. Drahozal drew a base on balls to load the bases, and Sami Kay Shafranski and Brennan then followed suit to score two runs to tie the game. Crogan struck out with the bases loaded to end the inning, but the game was back even.

Thompson continued to dominate to send it to extra innings, and UIU then had a chance to win it in the eighth inning. In the bottom of the frame, Budds flew out to right center on a remarkable diving catch by center fielder Carlie Hart in the gap. Shafranski then grounded out for the second out, and it appeared as though we were headed for the ninth. However, Brennan then reached on an infield hit to third base, and the ball was rocketed off the bat and ricocheted over towards short. With a runner at first and two outs, Crogan stepped up with another chance.

The freshman answered, sending the ball in the gap in right center, Brennan got a great jump and was sent all the way home from first, and the throw was just late at the plate, scoring the game-winning run. UIU needed the win to earn the split, and also get back on the winning track in close games. UIU lost three games two weeks ago by one run each. The Peacocks picked up the split, and can carry some momentum with them into the weekend.

Thompson earned the win in the circle, while Brennan, Crogan, and Payton Kastenschmidt each tallied two hits apiece offensively.