TODAY IN PEACOCK SOFTBALL… Upper Iowa (20-13, 12-6 NSIC) is set to welcome Minnesota State University-Mankato to Fayette on Tuesday afternoon. The doubleheader is the Peacocks' third twin bill in as many days at Eischeid Softball Complex, and marks just the second time UIU is playing an NSIC doubleheader at its original location and time this season. The Peacocks are coming off a perfect 6-0 week that extended their winning streak to nine games and clinched the fifth spot in NSIC standings, just one win behind UIU's weekend opponents, St. Cloud State University and the University of Minnesota Duluth, who sit at 13-5.

LIVE OPTIONS… Fans who can't make it to the game have several options to follow the action from home or on the go through the links above or UIUPeacocks.com/Live. Webcast and live stats will be available for the doubleheader. Both games can also be broadcast on KCRG-TV 9.2 or streamed live on the NSIC Channel through Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple and Android TV's.

HALF A DOZEN… Upper Iowa went a perfect 6-0 this last week, picking up their fourth straight Northern Sun sweep in the process. The Peacock offense posted a .356 average during the stretch while scoring 58 runs thanks to 69 hits, including 18 doubles, a triple and three homers for a .505 slugging percentage. Upper Iowa added 20 walks and a pair of hit batters to secure a .414 on-base percentage. When it came to the pitching staff, the Peacocks registered three pitchers with ERA's below 1.00 for the week as three of UIU's four pitchers allowed only three earned runs in 35.0 innings. Jaclyn Thompson threw a no-hitter in the final game of the week against the University of Minnesota Crookston and led the pitching staff with a 2-0 record and 0.47 ERA in 15.0 innings with seven strikeouts. Emily Kisch also threw very well with a 3-0 record and a 0.82 ERA in 17.0 innings, surrendering only two earned runs while striking out 12 batters. Offensively, Katie Crogan led the team with a .522 batting average thanks to 12 hits including four doubles with nine RBI and eight runs scored. Jordyn Brennan hit .400 with eight hits including three doubles, a triple, and a homer to slug .800 and drive in 11 runs while also scoring eight times. Payton Kastenschmidt played the final three games of the week and went 7-for-12 with two doubles and a grand slam for nine RBI.

WINNING WAYS… With the six wins this week, Upper Iowa has put together a 9-game winning streak dating back to a split with the University of Sioux Falls. The Peacocks hit .374 during that stretch while averaging 9.8 runs per game and holding their opponents to just 3.3 per game. UIU collected 35 extra-base hits with 24 doubles, a triple and 10 home runs – highlighted by two grand slams – for a .570 slugging percentage. Six Peacocks finished with 10+ hits while three had 10+ RBI led by Crogan (19 hits, 18 RBI), Brennan (14 hits, 14 RBI) and Julia Buffington (13 hits, 11 RBI). Kisch (5-0), Thompson (3-0) and Erin Drahozal (1-0) picked up the wins in the circle with a cumulative 1.53 ERA. The trio allowed 21 runs, 12 earned, on 51 hits while striking out 30 batters in 54.0 innings.

ABOUT THE MAVERICKS… Minnesota State (23-17, 8-10 NSIC) went 3-3 this last week after sweeping Southwest Minnesota State University, falling twice to St. Cloud State University and splitting with the University of Minnesota Duluth. MSU is tied for ninth in NSIC standings and has swept three conference opponents thus far. The Mavericks are batting .292 as a team with 324 hits, 177 runs scored, 153 RBI, 53 doubles, eight triples and 20 homeruns. The MSU pitching squad holds a 3.68 ERA.

UP NEXT… The Peacocks have two more conference doubleheaders at home this weekend against St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth. UIU will welcome the Huskies on Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. before hosting the Bulldogs on Saturday at noon.