Upper Iowa had a come from behind, walk-off win over Southwest Minnesota State University on Sunday afternoon. After falling behind 6-0 to begin the game, the Peacocks rattled off seven unanswered to win the game on a walk off wild pitch. Upper Iowa saw nine arms in the third game of the weekend but it was the final pitcher, Colin Lacey, who was awarded the win. Ryan Hull and Samuel Grushkin each notched a home run and combined to drive in five runs and score four providing a push for the Peacock offense. With the win, Upper Iowa claims the series and improves to 3-4 overall, 2-1 in the  NSIC while SMSU drops to 2-3, 1-2 in conference play.

Southwest scored first for the third time this series and for the fifth straight game. A pair of walks put two Mustangs on the base paths before Matt Bezdicek scored on an RBI groundout giving SMSU a 1-0 advantage through two. The Mustangs added another in the top of the fifth. A walk and a single put two ducks on the pond before a ball in the dirt on a third strike and a subsequent throw to first allowed a run to score and push SMSU's advantage to 2-0. 

Peacock starting pitcher Blake Thiesse was relieved after allowing two runs on two hits and a pair of walks while fanning four in 4.2 innings of work. The game saw eight different relievers follow Thiesse including Kiley Brown, Brennan Sefrit, Sam Marhefke, Grant Ver Voort, Jason Katz, Steve Marhefke, Chris Harsh, and Lacey.

SMSU added four more runs in the sixth. A pair of walks put two Mustangs on before Brodie Smith singled over the head of UIU's shortstop to bring in both baserunners. Smith came around to score himself following a wild pitch and an error. Nate Kuhn capped off the scoring spree after reaching on an error and going from second to home on another Peacock miscue making it a 6-0 ballgame.

Upper Iowa got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth. Casey Zarr got the inning started with a pinch-hit single into the left field gap. Tanner Stein came in to run for Zarr then advanced on a passed ball and a Jake Hilmer single before scoring on a double-play to provide the Peacocks with their first run of the day.

UIU halved its deficit in the seventh. Samuel Grushkin got aboard via a walk before Ryan Hull poked one beyond the left field fence making the score 6-3.

Grushkin tied the game with one swing in the bottom of the eighth with a three-run homerun off of the Mustangs' ace John Bezdicek. Bezdicek allowed all six unanswered runs, five earned in a 4.2 inning relief appearance. The junior allowed six hits and a walk while setting down seven on strikes. Kolby Kizer got the start for SMSU allowing just one hit and a walk while striking out three in three scoreless innings. Jared Tschetter came in to relieve Bezidicek to close out the game. 

In the bottom of the ninth, Hull reached on a walk before stealing second. With two outs and Jake Hilmer up to bat, a wild pitch allowed Hull to reach third and score on an inaccurate throw from the catcher to the third baseman. The win marked Upper Iowa's first victory in walkoff fashion since April of 2019.

PEACOCKS OF THE GAME… 

• Grushkin: 1-3, 3 RBI, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 BB

• Hull: 1-3, 2 RBI, 2 R, 1 HR 1 BB

• Thiesse: 4.2 IP, 4 SO, 2 ER, 2 H, 2 BB

• Lacey: 1.0 IP, 0 R, 2 SO, 1 H… Awarded first win since 2018