Upper Iowa dropped a pair of Northern Sun Conference baseball games on Wednesday afternoon in Fayette to Winona State University. The Warriors claimed a 6-2 win in game one behind a solid performance from starter Aaron Mutter and then pounded 17 hits to score a 16-2 victory in game two shortened to seven innings due to the NSIC run rule. After the losses, UIU falls to 11-24 overall and 8-22 in the NSIC, while WSU improved to 19-18 overall and 11-13 in the conference.
The Peacocks have the weekend off, but will return to Robertson Woods Field next Wednesday, May 1. Upper Iowa will host the Wildcats of Wayne State College at 12 p.m.
Game One: Winona State 6 - Upper Iowa 2
Tony Salato opened the first inning with a home run over the fence in centerfield giving UIU an early 1-0 lead. The longball was Salato's first of the season.
In the third inning, the Warriors got a bloop single over
Cody Ryan's head at second and, after a strikeout, had the bases loaded thanks to two walks. A sacrifice fly by Sam Kohnle tied the game at 1-1, and the Warriors then took the lead on an rbi-single to center by Chad Herbst and a two-run single to left off the bat of Andrew Pliner.
UIU put together the threat of a big inning in the fourth when Zackary Cain singled up the middle and came home on a double to the gap in left by
Riley Braughton. Following a strikeout,
AJ Friedrich singled to set up runners on the corners with one out, but a pair of strikeouts ended the inning and UIU's rally.
WSU didn't let the momentum stay with the home team for long. In the top of the fifth, the Warriors added a pair of insurance runs. With the one out, a pair of walks around a hit batter loaded the bases for Winona State and Nick Nalewanski singled to center to send a pair to the plate and give the visitors a 6-2 advantage.
Aaron Mutter (4-2) picked up the complete game win with nine strikeouts for the Warriors. Mutter allowed just two runs on four hits.
Blake Thiesse (2-2) struggled with the strikezone handing out six walks and a hit batsman while allowing six runs on five hits in 4. 1 innings. The freshman righty struck out three batters.
Clayton Lieb and
Greg Glass combined for 2.2 scoreless innings in relief with three strikeouts.
Game Two: Winona State 16 - Upper Iowa 2 (7)
The Warriors jumped on the scoreboard early in game two with three runs in the first inning on just two hits aided by a pair of walks. Herbst drove in two with a single down the left field line and the third run scored on a wild pitch.
Upper Iowa got a run back in the bottom of the first when Braughton doubled for the second time on the day extending his hitting streak to 12 games. UIU's shortstop came home on a single by Friedrich to cut the gap to 3-1.
Winona State's offense exploded in the third inning as 12 batters came to the plate scoring eight runs on seven hits and a pair of walks. The Warriors highlight in the frame came when Derek Martin homered to left field. At the end of the big inning, WSU held an 11-1 advantage.
The visitors added four more runs in the fourth inning to pull out to a 15-1 lead with four hits and two walks. Martin added two more RBI with a single through the right side, while Nalewanski and Tanner Williams each pushed a run home with hits.
Both teams scratched the scoreboard with solo homers in the seventh inning. Kyle Kosobucki hit one for the Warriors, while Salato knocked his second long ball of the day with two down in the final frame.
Dillon Whitaker (4-3) picked up the win allowing just one run on five hits while striking out four Peacocks.
Logan DeWulf (1-3) took the loss after just 2.1 innings on the hill allowing eight runs on seven hits and a pair of walks. Alex Morales threw well for Upper Iowa going 2.1 innings in relief and holding the Warriors scoreless with three strikeouts.
