The Upper Iowa University softball team was unable to pick up a win on Saturday as they closed out their time at the Dome Invitational in Rosemont, Ill. The Peacocks faced the Rangers of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in their first matchup of the day in a game where the Peacocks erased a 3-0 deficit and brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh inning but were unable to complete the comeback, losing 5-3. The second game of the day against the University of Findlay Oilers was tied 1-1 after five innings, but a sixth inning Oiler surge muddied the Peacock chances and handed them the 3-1 loss.
Parkside 5, Upper Iowa 3
The Peacocks offense started strong for the second day in a row with another leadoff single from
Kaylee Frenette in the top of the first that saw her advance to third after two productive outs, but Upper Iowa was unable to score their leadoff runner. The Rangers had no such trouble as they got on the board early with a leadoff home run in their half of the first inning. A single and a steal following the homer looked to spell trouble for the Peacocks as they had a baserunner at second with no outs, but they stranded the Ranger runner and ended the first inning down 1-0.
After the UIU offense went down in order to start the second and Parkside started their half-inning with an out, the Rangers hit two singles and then scored on a wild pitch before scoring again on an RBI double. The Peacock defense was faced with a runner on third and only one out following another wild pitch, but they tightened things and recorded consecutive ground outs to keep a manageable 3-0 deficit.
The Upper Iowa offense got on the board in the top of the third inning as
Aubree Terris and
Sydney Wilcox led off the inning with back-to-back singles before a third consecutive single by Frenette pushed Terris across and scored the first Peacock run of the game. UIU was not done there as the runners advanced to second and third on a passed ball and
Kaitlyn Carlson reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases with nobody out.
Katie Crogan grounded into a double play in the ensuing UIU at-bat, but it was enough to get Wilcox home and add another run for the Peacocks and cut their deficit to 3-2.
After leaving the bases loaded in the top of the fourth inning, the Peacock offense struck again in the fifth after the Rangers recorded two errors over two UIU at-bats. Carlson reached on an error and then advanced on a throwing error as Crogan reached on a fielder's choice before an
Amanda Williams single loaded the bases with no outs.
Sadie Carpenter recorded an RBI as she reached on a fielder's choice and scored Carlson to knot the game at three runs apiece.
The Rangers tagged on runs in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings to put UIU in a 5-3 hole going into the decisive seventh inning. Crogan hit a leadoff single to bring the tying run to the plate for the Peacocks, but Upper Iowa was unable to complete the comeback as they fell 5-3 against Parkside.
Findlay 3, Upper Iowa 1
The Peacocks struck first against the Oilers in the second inning after
Alli Schaffer reached on an error and was advanced on a sacrifice bunt by
Sadie Carpenter before an RBI single by
Abby McKay gave UIU a 1-0 lead.
Findlay would go on to knot the score at one run apiece in the fourth inning, but the finishing blow came in the sixth frame as the Oilers tacked on two more runs. The Peacocks threatened in their half of the sixth with runners in scoring position after Crogan got on after a HBP,
Emily Draeger reached on a bunt, and Schaffer layed down a successful sacrifice bunt, but the squad was unable to complete the comeback effort and dropped their second game by a score of 3-1.
Up Next...
The Peacocks return to action for a six-game weekend slate as part of the Drury Invitational in Springfield, Mo. from Feb. 26-28. The team is scheduled to play two game each day, with Friday's action scheduled for 10 a.m. and 12 p.m., Saturday's action scheduled for 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and Sunday's action scheduled for 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
