Upper Iowa dropped a pair of games at Maryville University on Friday. The Saints picked up an 9-8 win in extra innings in game one and a 5-1 win in game two to sweep the days action. UIU racked up 14 hits in game one, but stranded 11 runners on base. For the day, UIU tallied 20 hits, but the Saints' pitchers and defense left 18 Peacocks on the base paths.
The Peacocks will stay in St. Louis, Mo. and battle Maryville again tomorrow in another double header. The scheduled twin bill with the University of Missouri-St. Louis was cancelled today, so the Peacocks and Saints will rematch tomorrow beginning at 2 p.m. UIU is still slated to close out their road trip on Saturday at McKendree University.
Game One: Maryville 9 - Upper Iowa 8 (8)
The Saints jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first thanks to four hits including an rbi-single and a two-run single. UIU was able to scratch one run back in the top of the second when
Kaylee Frenette scored from second on a single by
Sami Kay Shafranski.
In the top of the third inning,
Katie Crogan doubled to the gap in left center and scored on a home run to left off the bat of
Erin Drahozal. Trailing by just one run entering the fourth, the Peacocks scored three runs on two hits and two Saint errors to take a 6-4 lead. Shafranski reached on an error, but still drove in
Kennedy Newell, who singled to open the frame. Later in the inning,
Jordyn Brennan hit a grounder that turned into a pair of Peacock runs.
After Maryville cut the gap back to one run, 6-5, in the bottom of the fifth inning, Upper Iowa was able to push the lead back to two, 7-5, in the top of the seventh. Three straight singles with one out in the seventh sent one Peacock across the plate, but a pair of ground outs ended the UIU threat without any more runs scoring.
The Saints, fueled by three hits and a Peacock error in the outfield, tied the game at 7-7 with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to push the game into extra innings. Per non-conference rules, a runner is placed on second base to begin all extra innings. UIU got their runner to third with no outs and
Jenny Budds scored on a Drahozal double to left.
Maryville took advantage of their placed runner as well in the eighth inning. With two runners in scoring position and no outs, the Peacocks got two straight strikeouts by pitcher
Jaclyn Thompson, but a two-run single pushed a pair of unearned runs across the plate for the 9-8 win.
Sydney Wilcox started for UIU, but lasted only one-third of an inning allowing 4 runs on 4 hits and a walk. Drahozal stepped in and threw 4.2 innings, scattered 4 hits and allowed just a run. Thompson pitched the final 2.2 innings for UIU and surrendered 4 unearned runs on 4 hits.
Newell picked up three hits for the Peacocks, while
Julia Buffington, Frenette, Brennan, Crogan and Drahozal all had two hits apiece.
Game Two: Maryville 5 - Upper Iowa 1
The Saints got on the scoreboard first with a pair of runs on three hits in the bottom of the third inning. Maryville's big inning was highlighted by a two-run homer to left.
Through the first five innings, the Peacock bats struggled to find holes tallying just three hits. In the sixth inning, Drahozal cut the margin in half with one swing. Drahozal's third long ball of the season and second of the day set the score at 2-1.
Maryville didn't let the momentum stay with their guests for long. The home team scored three runs on two hits and threatened for more before the Peacocks were able to strand three Saints on the bases. An rbi-double and a two-run single pushed the three runs home and pushed Maryville's lead to 5-1.
In UIU's final at bats, the Peacocks put runners on first and second with one out and a wild pitch pushed the pair into scoring position. Unfortunately, a ground out and a strike out ended the threat and the game.
Emily Kisch took the loss after throwing 5.2 innings and allowing 5 runs on 9 hits. Thompson got the final out with a strikeout to get UIU out of the sixth inning.
Payton Kastenschmidt caught game two and tallied a pair of hits, while Frenette, Shafranski, Drahozal and Buffington all got one hit in the game.
