The Peacock baseball team suffered a pair of losses at the University of Minnesota Crookston on Saturday in Crookston, Minnesota. Upper Iowa couldn't get the offense going in the first game and then couldn't hold on to a three-run lead in the ninth inning of game two. With the 5-0 and 6-5 wins, UMC improves to 16-11 overall and 9-4 in the NSIC. Upper Iowa is now 8-15 overall and 5-13 in the conference.
UIU will face Bemidji State University in Bemidji, Minn. next Wednesday and then travel to central Minnesota to take on the Mavericks of Minnesota State University, Mankato on Saturday and Sunday.
Game One: Minnesota Crookston 5 - Upper Iowa 0
Minnesota Crookston's starter Zach Rustad controlled the Peacock offense in game one holding Upper Iowa to just one hit, which came with two outs in the sixth inning.
Tony Salato doubled to give the Peacocks just their second base runner of the game.
The Golden Eagles struck early with three runs in the bottom of the first on a pair of hits and added two more runs on two hits in the bottom of the sixth to grab a 5-0 lead.
In the top of the seventh inning, a pair of walks to open the frame gave UIU a pair of runners on base, but a pair of strikeouts and a fly out ended the inning and game.
Rustad (4-4) threw the complete-game, one-hitter while striking out nine Peacocks.
Duncan Snider (1-3) allowed just six hits, all singles, in his 5.2 innings for the Peacocks and struck out eight Golden Eagles, but UMC scored six runs, five earned, off the junior righty.
Game Two: Minnesota Crookston 6 - Upper Iowa 5
After being held to just one hit in the opening game, the Peacocks recorded nine in game two with four Peacocks grabbing a pair.
Kyle Routhieaux, Salato, Zackary Cain and
Riley Braughton all had two hits, while
Cole Scieszinski added a double.
Upper Iowa was the first team on the scoreboard with four runs on three hits and a pair of Golden Eagle errors in the top of the fifth. Scieszinski picked up the first run batted in, Salato plated two Peacocks with a double to the gap in right center and Cain singled in a run to close out the scoring in the frame.
The Golden Eagles scored a run in the fifth and one more in the seventh inning to cut the gap to 4-2 heading into the ninth inning.
UIU added an insurance run in the top of the ninth when Salato hit a sac fly to put the Peacocks ahead 5-2.
With one out in the bottom of the ninth, UMC had the bases loaded thanks to three walks. A single and a sac fly pulled the home team within one, 5-4, and left runners on first and second with two outs. A fourth walk in the inning reloaded the bases and a single plated two Golden Eagles and ended the game for a 6-5 UMC victory.
Clayton Lieb (1-1) took the loss after dropping the save opportunity in the ninth with all four runs assigned to him.
Alexander Morales threw six innings allowing just one run on seven hits, while striking out three batters.
Mac Wolfe and
Logan DeWulf both worked an inning in relief.
