Upper Iowa fell back-to-back to Minnesota State University, Mankato on Sunday, Apr. 18. The Peacocks dropped game one 5-1 before losing 12-6 in the seven-inning non-conference rematch. Following the day, Minnesota State stays atop the conference at 22-4 overall, 19-3 in the NSIC while Upper Iowa moves to 11-15 on the season, 9-12 in conference play.
 
Game One: Minnesota State 5, Upper Iowa 1

The Mavericks quickly went ahead 2-0 in the top of the second thanks to a double, a single and a pair of well placed bunts. Minnesota State tacked on another in the fourth when Jack Waletich went deep to right field for the second time this season. Two more runs came across the plate in the fifth and sixth on a trio of base knocks and a pair of free passes extending MSU's advantage to 5-0. 

The Peacocks rallied in the bottom of the ninth when Jake Hilmer blasted a double off of the left field fence. Hilmer advanced to third on an Alex Greene sacrifice fly before scoring on a single off the bat of Hogan Penny cutting UIU's deficit down to 5-1. Upper Iowa was unable to produce any other runs ending the game 5-1 in favor of Minnesota State.

The Peacocks saw a trio of arms in the outing. Blake Thiesse started the game allowing four earned runs on eight hits and a walk while fanning three in five innings of work. Thiesse moves to a 2-3 record on the season after being awarded the loss. Brennan Sefrit went one inning allowing an earned run on a pair of hits and a walk while fanning one. Keaton Parker tossed three scoreless innings to close out the day allowing just one hit and setting down two on strikes. Parker faced just nine batters on the day as the lone runner he let on was doubled off to end the top of the ninth.

Game Two: Minnesota State 12, Upper Iowa 6

The Mavericks posted four runs in the opening frame on four hits including a two-run homerun off of the bat of Ty Denzer. Minnesota State extended its lead to 7-0 in the top of the third with a three-run homerun from Mikey Friedrickson, the first of his three-year career in Mankato. 

Upper Iowa scored two of their own in the ensuing half inning. A trio of singles from Kyle Routhieaux, Jake Hilmer, and Samuel Grushkin loaded the bases with Peacocks before AJ Friedrich brought two runs home with a single through the gap on the left side. 

Minnesota State reclaimed the runs in the top of the fifth on a pair of free passes and two hits. Upper Iowa responded with three more in the bottom half narrowing its deficit down to 9-5. The Peacocks loaded the bases again after Hogan Penny, Nolan Friedrichs, and Evan Kerlin all reached on free passes. Nolan Drill then tripled deep into the left field gap off of the wall clearing the bases and registering his first three career RBI. 

The Mavericks got all three runs back in the following frame. A pair of hits, a hit batter, and a wild pitch did the damage. The Peacocks continued to chip away, adding another score in the sixth when Grushkin doubled then came home on an opposite field single off the bat of Penny, narrowing the Peacock deficit to 12-6, the eventual final score as neither team crossed the plate again.

The Peacocks saw six arms in the second set. Jason Katz started and was awarded the loss after allowing four earned runs on five hits and a walk while striking out one in two innings of work. Grant Ver Voort and Colin Lacey each saw an inning after Lacey held the Mavericks hitless. Sam Marhefke and Casey Zarr followed with 1.1 innings apiece. Zarr picked up his first career strikeout in the outing. Chris Harsh went 0.1 innings for UIU getting a Maverick to groundout to close out the top half of the seventh.

PEACOCKS OF THE DAY...

• Penny: 4-6, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP

• Hilmer: 4-8 w/ a 2B, 2R, 1 HBP

• Drill: 2-4 w/ a 3B, 3 RBI

• Routhieaux: 2-6, 1 R 

• Grushkin: 2-8, 1 R

• Friedrich: 1-4, 2 RBI

• Parker: 3.0 IP, 0 R, 2 K, 1 H

• Lacey: 1.0 IP, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K

UP NEXT… Upper Iowa will host Concordia University, St. Paul for a midweek doubleheader on Apr. 21.