The Peacock softball team celebrated Strikeout Cancer Day on Saturday at the Eischeid Softball Complex in Fayette as they welcomed in the red-hot Wolves of Northern State University. Upper Iowa fell behind early in game one, and managed just two runs on six hits in an 8-2 loss, but bounced back in game two with 14 hits in a run-rule shortened game, 10-2. The game-two win snaps a seven-game losing streak for the Peacocks, and halts a seven-game winning streak for the Wolves in the process. UIU moves to 19-23 overall and 6-16 in the Northern Sun Conferences, while NSU is now 28-18 overall and 18-8 in league play.

Prior to the game, the Peacocks honored all those who have or are currently fighting cancer. The players wore ribbons in their hair with specific colors that represent different types of cancer, and wore special jerseys as well that were auctioned and raffled off to fans. Three outstanding individuals threw out ceremonial first pitches, including Kelly Drahozal, the mother of Erin Drahozal, Kathy Schumacher, the grandmother of Michaela Schumacher, and Jane Elliott, who threw to Sami Kay Shafranski. The money raised goes to research and funding at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

Upper Iowa wraps up their 2018 season on Sunday, Apr. 29 as they welcome in the Dragons of Minnesota State University Moorhead for a doubleheader in Fayette. Game one is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m., and the Peacocks will honor Shannon Nix on Senior Day. The games will be aired live on UIU TV and can be viewed in eastern Iowa on KCRG TV 9.3.

Game 1: Northern State 8 - Upper Iowa 2
The Wolves jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on three hits and a Peacock error in the first inning and added a pair of unearned runs in the second frame to push their early lead to 4-0. Peacock starter Emily Kisch settled in during the third, fourth and fifth innings to hold Northern State at bay, but NSU scored four runs on five hits all with two outs in the inning to get ahead 8-0.

After just two hits in the first five frames at bat, the Peacocks used three hits in the bottom of the sixth inning to score a pair of runs. Jordyn Brennan led off with a single to center and moved to second when Sami Kay Shafranski walked. A ground ball, double play looked like it might spoil the rally, but a single by Katie Crogan and a two-run double to center off the bat of Drahozal pushed UIU's runs across the plate.

Kisch (9-10) took the loss for UIU throwing 5.2 innings and allowing 8 runs, 5 were earned, on 11 hits. Drahozal threw 1.1 innings in relief and did not allow a run on 2 hits.

Crogan had a pair of hits, while four other Peacocks recorded a hit in the game.

Game 2: Upper Iowa 10 - Northern State 2 (5 Inn.)
The Peacocks were the ones who jumped out early in the second game, scoring three times on four hits in the opening frame to jump start their offense. Crogan roped a two-run double to center field to score Shafranski and Brennan, and the offense was off and running. Ali Green then pushed across Crogan with a double of her own, and the lead was 3-0 right out of the gates.

Three big innings fueled the Peacocks, as they scored three in the first, three in the third, and three in the fifth. The fourth inning pushed across another key run, and the home team was able to win in just five innings. In the third, NSU was forced to put game-one starter Jaime Fisher back in the circle. Fisher shut down UIU in game one, but this time the Peacocks put together quality at-bats. Drahozal singled through the right side to plate Julia Buffington, and after Upper Iowa loaded the bases with no outs, Nix pushed across another run after grounding into a double play. Amanda Williams then singled to score Drahozal, and UIU led 6-1.

In the fourth, Buffington absolutely crushed a solo home run to left field to push the lead to 7-1, and in the fifth UIU put an end to the game. Leading 7-2, the team rallied with three runs to enforce the run-rule when Jenny Budds and Brennan tallied back-to-back run-scoring singles. Shafranski then ended the game with a sacrifice fly, and the Peacocks took game two 10-2.

Sydney Wilcox (3-4) earned the win after tossing five innings allowing a pair of runs on four hits. Crogan's 3-for-3 effort led the team, while her two runs scored and two RBI were a game-best as well. Green recorded three hits as well, while Brennan added two to her total. Buffington scored a pair of runs for UIU as well.