Upper Iowa's softball team opened their 2019 campaign on Saturday in Russellville, Arkansas on the campus of Arkansas Tech University. The Peacocks split a pair of games against Northwest Missouri State University and Fort Hays State University thanks to a 5-1 win over the Bearcats and a 2-1 loss to the Tigers.
UIU's starting pitching was excellent with 13 innings in the circle on the day allowing 3 runs, 2 earned, on just 8 hits.
Sydney Wilcox, game one's winner, and
Emily Kisch, who took the tough loss in game two, struck out 9 batters .
Erin Drahozal,
Jenny Budds,
Amanda Williams,
Sami Kay Shafranski and
Katie Crogan all recorded a pair of hits on the day with Drahozal pushing three runs across the plate.
Upper Iowa will return to the field on Sunday to face off against the host Golden Suns and the Mules of the University of Central Missouri.
Game One: UIU 5 - NMSU 1
The Bearcats took an early 1-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the second inning, but the Peacocks were able to answer in a big way in the top of the fourth. With two outs, Crogan singled to center and came home on a double by Drahozal, who later scored thanks to a wild pitch and passed ball.
Ali Green walked and
Amanda Williams singled to continue the threat, but a final out was recorded before UIU could add any more runs.
In the sixth inning, Drahozal put some insurance on the board for the Peacocks with a two-run home run that scored Crogan. A Budds single plated Williams, who singled to reach base, pushing the final run of the game across the plate.
Wilcox threw a complete game for the win with 7 innings of work allowing just one unearned run on 4 hits and 5 walks; she struck out 4 Bearcats in the game.
Game Two: FHSU 2 - UIU 1
Upper Iowa scored the first run of their second game in the top of the fourth inning.
Jordyn Brennan led off with a walk and reached second on a Crogan single. The two runners moved into scoring position on a Drahozal sacrifice bunt, and Brennan scored on an infield single off the bat of
Ali Green. Two quick outs ended the Peacock threat before any more runners came home.
The Tigers tied the game in the sixth inning with two outs. With a runner on second, Kisch issued a pair of walks to load the bases. A single to right scored the tying run, but FHSU did not take the lead after a ground out to first ended the inning.
Three singles around a sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the seventh gave the Tigers a walk off win. Kisch allowed the first single and then gave way to
Jaclyn Thompson. A bunt single followed by a sac bunt put runners on second and third with only one out. Fort Hays State scored their winning run on a single through the right side.
Kisch took the loss with 2 earned runs in 6 innings of work. The junior allowed 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out 5 Tigers.
