BURNSVILLE, MINN. - The Northern Sun Conference released their All-Conference teams for baseball this week and junior Zac Cain was named among the league's best, earning a spot on the NSIC Gold Glove Team.

The honor marks the first All-NSIC postseason award for Cain. It marks the second straight season a Peacock was named to the Gold Glove Team, and the third time in the last four seasons. Luis Ravelo earned a spot on the 2017 team at shortstop, and Jacob Greco was named to the 2015 Gold Glove Team as the Peacock centerfielder.

Cain was a staple at first base for Upper Iowa in 2018, starting 32 of the 33 games in his corner spot on the infield. The junior did start every game in 2018, but the 33rd start was on the mound this season. In conference games, Cain did not make a single error in 251 putouts, and added 11 assists as well. His lone error came in a non-conference game this season at Missouri S&T, and was the only mistake in  306 putouts and 15 assists, for a remarkable fielding percentage of .997.

At the plate in 2018, Cain was second on the squad with a .319 average, including a .311 average in league games. The lefty slugger tallied 37 hits, including a pair of doubles and a home run, while driving in 22. Overall, Cain started all 41 games, recording 46 hits with three doubles and a homer while driving in 28. But his defense was a constant all season, and will take his all-conference honor into his senior campaign in 2019.

The Peacocks finished the 2018 campaign with a 17-24 record overall and a 15-18 mark in the Northern Sun. UIU ended the season in 9th place overall in the standings, just one spot out of claiming a place in the NSIC Tournament. UIU was just two games out of Northern State for that coveted eighth spot, but did end the season on a high note on Senior Weekend. UIU won their first-ever series against Minnesota State, taking three of four at home at Robertson Woods Field. THe Peacocks picked up a pair of sweeps in 2018, including a four-game series over the Marauders of the University of Mary, and a doubleheader sweep over the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State, both in Fayette. At home, the Peacocks finished 9-4, but were limited with home games due to bad weather. Six Peacocks finished the season with a batting average above .300 led by junioor Emmett Kulick (.344), as well as Cain (.319), Greco (.313), Callahan Seehase (.310), Dominic Hillesheim (.309), and Conner Klostermann (.301). UIU honored nine seniors on the final day of the regular season. The group included pitchers Tyus Adkins, Brett Fanning, Kolton Gonnerman, Tanner Poor, and Collin Thomas, as well as hitters Greco, Seehase, Hillesheim, and Sam Broome.