THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK SOFTBALL… Upper Iowa was originally slated to play six games at the HyVee Softball Classic hosted by Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Mo., but flooding caused the tournament to be reduced greatly. The Peacocks are now heading to Emporia, Kan. to play five games in the Emporia State Classic. UIU is scheduled to face Washburn University, Pittsburg State University, Northeastern State University, the University of Central Missouri and Emporia State University between Thursday-Saturday, Mar. 21-23.
 
LAST AT BAT…  The Peacocks last hit the diamond against Maryville University on Mar. 7-8 when UIU dropped three of four games including a pair of one-run games in extra innings. The Peacocks won the final game of the series 5-3 on Friday. As a team, Upper Iowa hit .278 but allowed the Saints to hit .322. The Peacocks collected nine extra base hits with six doubles and three home runs, while Maryville tallied seven doubles and two homers. Kaylee Frenette led the offense with four runs scored and a .429 average thanks to a team-high six hits. Julia Buffington was right behind Frenette with a .417 average and five hits including a double and a long ball. Erin Drahozal, Jordyn Brennan and Katie Crogan combined to drive in 11 runs with Drahozal pushing four across on a double and two home runs. In total, six Peacocks hit .300 or better in the series including Frenette, Buffington, Kennedy Newell (.385), Crogan (.357), Brennan (.313) and Drahozal (.300). Emily Kisch got the lone win of the series in relief on Friday, and Jaclyn Thompson led the team in ERA with a 2.33 in her six innings of work. Kisch and Sydney Wilcox posted ERAs of 4.34 and 4.42 in 9.2 and 6.1 innings, respectively.
 
EARLY OFFENSE… Upper Iowa is averaging five runs per game this season fueled by strong starts from five Peacocks. Crogan (.474), Newell (.435), Frenette (.375), Brennan (.317) and Sam Kay Shafranski (.295) have combined for nearly 70.0% of the Peacocks' total hits and over 61.0% of UIU's runs scored. Buffington (.417) also got back into the lineup in the series against MU and has contributed five hits and three runs in just four games. Upper Iowa has registered 25 extra-base hits thus far including 16 doubles, a triple, and eight home runs.
 
KATIE'S KILLIN' IT… Crogan has continued to provide a spark to the Peacock offense this season. Besides leading the team in batting average, the sophomore boasts a .737 slugging percentage (6^th in NSIC) and a .556 on-base percentage (4^th in NSIC). Crogan has driven in a team-high 10 runs fueled by seven doubles and a long ball.
 
UNDER PRESSURE… The Peacocks have proven the ability to hit under pressure and keep innings alive when opponents have recorded two outs. In these scenarios, Upper Iowa has batted .297 with 35 hits and 29 runs batted in, which accounts for more than half of the team's total run production. Crogan has proved to be a biggest threat in these situations as she bats an impressive .750 with two outs. Amanda Williams has hit just .167 under pressure but has made the most of her two hits by knocking in a team-best six runs.
 
ABOUT THE ICHABODS… Washburn (12-14, 5-1 MIAA) was 1-3 last week after getting swept by Missouri-St. Louis and splitting an MIAA doubleheader with Emporia State. The Peacocks split a doubleheader with WU on Feb. 18 in Conway, Ark., winning 6-5 in the nightcap after falling 9-2 in the opener.

ABOUT THE GORILLAS…  Pittsburg State (14-13, 4-2 MIAA) posted a 5-3 record last week, splitting an MIAA doubleheader against Fort Hays State University in their most recent action. The Gorillas are hitting .282 as a team and scoring 5.6 runs per game.
 
ABOUT THE RIVERHAWKS… Northeastern State (16-11, 7-1 MIAA) has won nine of its last 11 contests and bring a six-game winning streak into the contest. The Riverhawks have outscored opponents 46-8 in the last six games.
 
ABOUT THE JENNIES… Central Missouri (12-8, 3-1 MIAA) is riding a three-game winning streak into the Classic. The Peacocks topped the Jennies 8-7 early this season when the teams squared up in Russellville, Ark.
 
ABOUT THE HORNETS… Emporia State (6-15, 2-4 MIAA) defeated Washburn 9-1 with a run-rule to split the doubleheader in its last at bat. The Hornets are hitting .269 as a team and average 4.4 runs per game.
 
A LOOK AHEAD… The Peacocks will open up Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play against Winona State University on Tuesday, March 26 at 2 p.m. Upper Iowa will then face Minnesota State University Moorhead and Northern State University on Saturday and Sunday to round out the first weekend of conference action.