Upper Iowa dropped its first set of games versus the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. The Peacocks were defeated 13-5 in the first matchup before falling 5-2 in a tighter contest. Following the losses, Upper Iowa moves to 1-9 while Wisconsin-Parkside improves to 2-3.
 
UIU will return to Prospect Meadows in Marion, Iowa on Sunday, March 8 for the second pair of doubleheaders against the Rangers.
 
Game One: Wisconsin-Parkside 13, Upper Iowa 5
 
Wisconsin-Parkside opened the game up in the top of the first inning. A leadoff walk prior to homerun from Dominic Esposito scored two for Wisconsin-Parkside. One more ranger crossed the plate after a pair of extra bases hits pushed the lead to 3-0. The Rangers' offense exploded in the second, scoring seven runs on seven base hits, two of which were doubles. The big inning grew UWP's lead to 10-0.
 
Noah Gyldenvand opened up the following frame with a solo shot to left centerfield cutting Upper Iowa's deficit down to 10-1 through two innings of play. After a scoreless third and fourth, Wisconsin-Parkside tacked on three more in the fifth. A pair of walks put two runners on before Hunter Weddel cleared the bases with a round tripper extending the Rangers' lead to 13-1.
 
Gyldenvand responded with his second homerun of the day to lead off the bottom half of the inning. Conner Klostermann followed his lead as Klostermann immediately blasted his fifth homerun of the year. The two longballs were the first time this season that a pair of Peacocks have hit back-to-back homeruns. Hogan Penny then got aboard via a fielder's choice before John Magnuson hit the Peacocks' third homer of the inning. The rally decreased the Rangers' lead down to 13-5 through five. Wisconsin-Parkside shut down the Upper Iowa offense during the final two innings resulting in the 13-5 Rangers' victory.
 
Jason Katz was awarded the loss after allowing 10 earned runs on 11 hits and three walks in three innings of work. Parker Kray threw one scoreless inning in relief. Jarrett Ramer closed out the final three innings allowing three earned runs on four hits and two walks. Rammer also registered three strikeouts in the outing. Magnuson went 3-3 on the day, scored and drove in a run. Glydenvand went 2-4 with two homeruns.
 
Game Two: Wisconsin Parkside 5, Upper Iowa 2
 
Wisconsin-Parkside manufactured a run via a pair of base hits to go ahead 1-0 in the top of the first. Nicholas Eisenmenger began the next inning with a homerun to left center extending the Rangers lead to 2-0. Wisconsin-Parkside tacked on two more in the third when a baserunner reached on a double before Esposito hit his second homerun of the day doubling the Rangers' lead and making it a 4-0 game through three innings of play.
 
Upper Iowa got on the scoreboard when AJ Friedrich homered to left field in the bottom of the fourth putting the game at 4-1. The Peacocks' tacked on another in the seventh when Jack Thode connected on his second long ball of the season. The Rangers added some insurance in the top of the eighth after a pair of singles extended Wisconsin-Parkside's lead to 5-2. The Peacocks were unable to score during the final two frames resulting in the 5-2 defeat.
 
Jake Hilmer was awarded the loss after allowing five earned runs on seven hits in 7.1 innings on the mound. Hilmer tallied a team season-high 11 strikeouts in the outing. Grant Ver Voort threw 1.2 scoreless innings in relief. Klostermann led the Peacocks with a 2-4 rate at the plate that included a double.