Upper Iowa fell in a pair of games to the University of Minnesota Crookston on Sunday afternoon. The day kicked off with a close 1-0 loss before suffering a 6-1 defeat in the rematch. Following the game, the Peacocks move to 3-7 overall, 2-4 in the NSIC while the Golden Eagles stay perfect at 11-0, 7-0 in conference play.

GAME ONE: MINNESOTA CROOKSTON 1, UPPER IOWA 0

Upper Iowa fell 1-0 in a pitcher's duel to kick off the series with the Golden Eagles. Peacocks starting pitcher Duncan Snider held the NSIC's highest-scoring offense headed into the series (123 runs through nine games) scoreless through six innings. The right-handed senior allowed just one hit and four free passes while setting down four on strikes. 

Brennan Sefrit came in to start the seventh allowing a double to Brock Reller, the lone batter he faced. Chris Webber then closed out the inning but not before allowing an unearned run. Reller advanced on a fly-out and came around to score on a two-out single giving UMC a 1-0 lead and ending the shutout. 

The Peacocks put two on via an error and a walk in the bottom half of the inning. Alex Greene and Samuel Grushkin both advanced into scoring position on an AJ Friedrich groundout but the Peacocks were unable to push the runs across the plate resulting in the narrow loss. 

Jake Dykhoff went the distance for the Golden Eagles striking out four while allowing three hits and a walk in 7.0 innings of work picking up his second win of the season.

GAME TWO: MINNESOTA CROOKSTON 6, UPPER IOWA 1

Upper Iowa got on the board first in the matinee. Jake Hilmer began the inning with a walk before advancing to second on a steal. Alex Greene then singled into the right-centerfield gap bringing Hilmer home and putting the Peacocks up 1-0. The lead marked the first time that the Peacocks have scored first in six games. 

The Golden Eagles claimed a 2-1 lead of their own in the top of the fifth. Landyn Swenson led off the inning with a double before advancing and being brought home by a pair of groundouts. Mason Ruhlman then hit a solo shot to right field giving Crookston their first lead of the ballgame. 

Minnesota Crookston added some insurance in the bottom of the seventh inning extending their advantage to 4-1. A base hit and a walk put two on before Ruhlman hit a deep fly ball to the Peacocks left fielder Hogan Penny scoring Swenson for his second RBI of the game. Will Zimmerman then scored on a wild pitch to give UMC a three-run cushion.

Upper Iowa starter Blake Thiesse was relieved after 6.1 innings of work, where he allowed four earned runs on nine hits and a pair of walks while fanning six. Jason Katz and Keaton Parker combined to close out the inning walking two and striking out one. 

The Golden Eagles scored two more in the top of the eighth via a walk and a pair of errors to make it a 6-1 game. Kiley Brown pitched the inning allowing two unearned runs on a walk while picking up his first career strikeout.  

The Peacocks closed the game out by committee as Casey Zarr and Steve Marhefke teamed up in the ninth to end the frame. Upper Iowa didn't register another run thus ending the game 6-1 in favor of UMC.

PEACOCKS OF THE GAME… 

• Snider: 6.0 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 4 BB, 4 SO

• Webber: 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 SO

• Marhefke: 1.0 IP, 0 R, 2 SO, 1 BB 

• Trujillo: 2-4