The Upper Iowa softball team wrapped up their 2019 campaign with two tough losses at the NSIC Softball Tournament in Rochester, Minn. The No. 8 seeded Peacocks first matched up with the No. 9 seed Southwest Minnesota State in a game that ended 9-7 after the Mustangs scored four runs in the sixth and three in the seventh to come from behind and take the win. Upper Iowa was later paired with the No. 3 seed University of Minnesota Duluth. The Bulldogs tied the game up twice after the Peacocks had taken the lead and finished the game in walk-off fashion thanks to a two-run home run that set the final score at 5-3. With the losses, the Peacocks are eliminated from the postseason tournament and finish the season with a 23-24 record.

The Peacocks were led by freshman Kaylee Frenette and sophomore Katie Crogan, who earned All-NSIC Second Team and Gold Glove honors, in the final games of the season. Frenette had two hits in both games, drove in one run and scored three times for the Peacocks. Crogan also had four hits on the day to go with a pair of RBI. 

The Upper Iowa softball program said goodbye to seniors Jenny Budds, Julia Buffington, Erin Drahozal, Sami Kay Shafranski and Jaclyn Thompson who all played their final games for UIU. The Peacocks will bring back a solid group of talent next year led by Jordyn Brennan, Crogan and Frenette who played and started all 47 matches this season.

Game One: Southwest Minnesota State 9, Upper Iowa 7
The Peacocks got out to 5-2 lead after five full innings thanks to scoring one run in each frame and holding the Mustangs to just two runs on four hits. All five of Upper Iowa's runs came with two outs recorded with Crogan picking up two RBI and Frenette, Ali Green, and Brennan each driving in one.

SMSU took its first lead of the game, 6-5, in the top of the sixth with a run-scoring single by Bailey Johnson and a three-run home run to left center off the bat of Abbie Decker. Upper Iowa responded with a pair of unearned runs in the home half to regain the lead at 7-6. Frenette came around to score on a wild pitch after reaching first on an error and Shafranski scored on the following play when Buffington's shot to third was misplayed.

The Mustangs scored the game-winning runs in the top of the seventh with three runs on five hits and held the Peacocks without a score for the first time in the game to complete the comeback victory and advance to the second round of the tournament.

Emily Kisch (11-10) suffered the loss after allowing six runs on 10 hits in 6.2 innings. Drahozal enter the circle in relief during the sixth inning but returned to the outfield just an out later after the Mustangs scored three runs on a trio of hits.

Shelby Crank (3-3) earned the win after pitching the final three innings of the game in relief of starter Athena Golling. The pair allowed seven runs, five earned, on 11 hits and only managed to strike out one Peacock.

Game Two: Minnesota Duluth 5, Upper Iowa 3
The Peacocks dropped another heartbreaker in game two against the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs. The teams went into the final inning knotted at 3-3 with UMD getting the last chance at the plate. Emily Draeger registered a pinch-hit single to lead off the inning and later advanced to second on Brennan's sacrifice bunt and third on Frenette's fourth hit of the day. With only one out to spare, the Peacocks were sent back to the dugout after UMD successfully caught a runner stealing. The Bulldogs carried that momentum into the bottom of the seventh and took the game with a walk-off home run.

The beginning of the game was a pitcher's duel between UIU starter Thompson and UMD's Sam Pederson. Both teams were held to just one hit in the first three innings.

The Peacocks then opened up the scoring the fourth inning with a pair of runs on two hits and an error. Upper Iowa loaded the bases for Drahozal thanks to singles from Frenette and Buffington and Crogan reaching via hit-by-pitch. The senior brought home the first run of the game and got to first with an error to keep the bases loaded for the Peacocks while extending her reached base streak to 26 games. The threat was put to bed soon after but not before Buffington made the score 2-0 by crossing the plate on a wild pitch.

The Bulldogs tied the game up after turning the Peacocks away 1-2-3 in the fifth inning. UMD's runs came courtesy of a sacrifice fly and a wild pitch.

Buffington crushed her fifth long ball of the season over the left field fence to give the Peacocks a one-run advantage in the sixth inning. The Bulldogs would get that run back in their half inning, though, with an unearned run before sealing the victory with the walk-off homer in the final inning.

Drahozal (4-2) pitched the final two innings and was credited with the loss after giving up the go-ahead runs in the seventh inning. Thompson threw 4.0 innings and gave up two runs on five hits while walking three and striking out one.

Breanna Swint (17-11) got the win in relief, allowing just one run on four hits in 3.0 innings. Sam Pederson threw 4.0 innings and gave up two runs on three hits.