The Peacock baseball team lost a 9-4 decision at Northern State University on Saturday afternoon. The loss snapped a three-game win streak for Upper Iowa and kept the team from posting a sweep in the three-game series with the Wolves. UIU is now 11-11 overall and 9-8 in the Northern Sun, while NSU is now 10-9 overall and 9-6 in the conference.
Upper Iowa was the first team on the scoreboard with a run right away in their first trip to the plate. After an error allowed leadoff hitter
Ryan Hull to reach,
Alex Greene was able to drive in the run with a single that scored Hull from second with two outs.
Northern State answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second off starter
Duncan Snider. The runs by the Wolves ended a streak of 10 straight scoreless innings on the mound by Snider. NSU used a hit batter, a hit, and a Peacock error to claim a 2-1 advantage. The home team extended their lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the third with three runs on four hits highlighted by a two-run single with one out.
In the top of the fourth, UIU rallied with two runs on three hits.
Jake Hilmer opened the inning with a single to left and scored on a Sam Grushkin double to center. Grushkin came home when
Hogan Penny singled to center.
The Peacocks continued to rally in the top of the fifth after the Peacocks loaded the bases with one out. After a shallow fly to left, a wild pitch allowed Hull, who reached with a single, to score from third. Grushkin walked to reload the bases with two outs, but the threat ended with a groundout and kept the Peacocks down one, 5-4.
Snider found his rhythm in the fourth and fifth innings allowing just two baserunners on a walk and a single, but the Wolves got to the right-hander again in the sixth inning. Northern State combined a single, a double, a sac bunt, and a grounder to score two runs and add insurance to their lead.
Northern State added a run in the seventh and one more in the eighth to set the final score at 9-4.
Snider fell to 2-1 this season after allowing seven runs, six earned, on 10 hits and three walks. The senior did strike out seven Wolves.
At the plate UIU was led by Penny, who racked up three hits on the day and eight in the three-game series. Hull and Hilmer each tallied two hits in the game. The Peacocks struggled at times in the batter's box as two Wolves pitchers posted 12 strikeouts.
Upper Iowa will close out their seven-game road trip next Wednesday, Apr. 14 at St. Cloud State University. The Peacocks and Huskies will get together for a double header in St. Cloud, Minn. at 1:30 p.m.
