This Week in Peacock Baseball… The Peacocks are returning to Robertson Woods Field for a three-game series against the University of Sioux Falls Cougars this weekend. The two sides will kick things off with a double header on Friday afternoon with the first pitch for game one scheduled to take place at noon. The series will wrap up on Saturday with a single, nine-inning game. Last year, UIU and USF split their double header with the Peacocks shutting out the Cougars in game two, 3-0, after Sioux Falls posted a 5-3 win in game one.
Senior Sendoff… Prior to Saturday's game, the Peacock baseball program will honor the six Peacock seniors who are wrapping up their careers this season. The six seniors who will be recognized for their time in Peacock blue and dedication to the UIU baseball program include Zackary Cain, Alexander Glick, Emmett Kulick, Jeremy Maschino, Tony Salato, and Cole Scieszinski.
The Week in Review… On Tuesday, the Peacocks split their NSIC double header against Concordia-St. Paul in Minnetonka, Minn. The UIU bats were red-hot in game one, plating 11 runs in support of a scoreless pitching performance from Duncan Snider and Chris Webber. Blake Thiesse took the hill in game two, throwing seven frames of one-run ball and holding the Golden Bears to only two hits. The Peacocks couldn't provide the same type of run support in game two, falling to CSP 3-2 after a ninth-inning rally from the Golden Bears. UIU first baseman, A.J. Friedrich, swung a big stick for the Peacocks tallying six hits and 4 RBIs between the two games.
Offensive Leaders… Upper Iowa's Zackary Cain is not only leading the Peacocks with his .388 batting average, but also ranks among the NSIC's top ten hitters. Cain's slash line currently sits at .388/.434/.534, but the senior has Friedrich hot on his heels, who is hitting .356/.423/.481. Over the past six games, Friedrich has started to catch up to Cain thanks to a .542 average over his last seven games against Concordia-St. Paul, Minnesota State, and Bemidji State.
From the Bump… On Tuesday, the Peacock pitching staff allowed only 3 runs and 8 hits to the Golden Bears. Upper Iowa has thrown four pitchers in that time: Blake Thiesse, Clayton Lieb, Duncan Snider, and Chris Webber who combined for 15 strikeouts and a collective 1.69 ERA. In his last seven starts, Snider has been lights out on the hill for the Peacocks; recording a 2.40 ERA and holding opposing batters to just a .187 average. Over that time, Snider has thrown 41.2 innings and struck out 54 batters.
Scouting the Cougars… USF is coming to Robertson Woods with a 9-29 overall record and have posted a 7-18 record against NSIC opponents. The Cougars are in the midst of a five-game losing streak after being swept by both Wayne State and Augustana. This season, Sioux Falls has struggled to get things going at the plate batting a collective .222 on the season, the second lowest in the conference. On the mound, the Cougars have combined for a 6.07 ERA while holding opposing batters to a .299 average. They are led by senior Christian Lazar, who has struck out 33 batters over his 22.0 innings of work and has maintained a 2.45 ERA.
