THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK SOFTBALL… The Upper Iowa University softball team is set to embark on a long road trip as they are just past the midway point of conference play. The Peacocks match up against Minnesota State, Mankato for an NSIC doubleheader at 2 p.m. on Apr. 22 to open their week. UIU will then play a pair of duals against Minnesota Duluth on Apr. 24 at 1 p.m. ahead of a two-game set against St. Cloud State at 12 p.m. on Apr. 25 to end the week.

LAST AT BAT… The Peacocks split each of their last NSIC doubleheaders as they faced Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State at home in Fayette. Upper Iowa claimed a 4-1 win in their first game against the Golden Eagles as Abby McKay put together a stellar pitching performance, but the UIU offense could not get going in a 3-0 loss in game two. In game one against Bemidji State, the Peacocks pounded the Beavers with a whopping six runs in the bottom of the first inning. UIU would add two more in the second, and eventually won 9-1 in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the sixth as Katie Crogan hit a game-winning home run. The Upper Iowa offense was unable to find the same success in game two as they fell by a score of 2-1 despite multiple chances with runners on base.

KEEPING UP WITH UPPER IOWA... We've got you covered with several live options while the Peacocks are on the road. Live stats and webcasts produced by the hosting teams will be available through the links at UIUPeacocks.com/Live and included in this story. The games will also stream live on the new NSIC Network app through Roku and Fire devices, as well as Apple and Android TV. Search for "NSIC Network" to find the app on your relevant device.

ABBY Mc-"K"... The Peacocks pitching circle revolves around Abby McKay this season as she has notched the team's top marks in just about every major category. McKay has an 8-7 record with 12 complete games, holds a 3.11 earned run average, and allows opposing batters to hit just .270 on average. The second-year freshman leads the NSIC in innings with 105.2, and her 123 strikeouts (1.17 per inning) rank fourth in the conference. The Upper Iowa ace went 2-0 in a pair of complete game wins against Minn. Crookston and Bemidji State over the weekend. She recorded 20 strikeouts in 11 innings of work on Apr. 17, striking out a season-high 12 batters while allowing just one run and two hits in a 4-1 win before coming on for four shutout innings of relief in game two where she struck out eight more. She had five strikeouts and allowed just one run and one hit in a 9-1 (6 inn.) win on Apr. 18.

MANAGING THE MAVERICKS... No. 18 Minnesota State University, Mankato has compiled a 22-7 (11-5 NSIC) record on the season. The Mavericks are coming off a weekend where they split with St. Cloud State before sweeping Minn. Duluth. Offensively, MSU hits .333 as a team with 267 hits, 163 runs (5.62 per game), 145 RBI, 41 doubles, seven triples, and 18 home runs. The Maverick pitchers have combined for a 1.86 ERA, 238 strikeouts, and allow a .220 average to opponents. Minnesota State is led by three-time NSIC pitcher of the week, Mackenzie Ward, as she leads the conference in ERA (1.11), opposing batting average (.162), and strikeouts (173).

BESTING THE BULLDOGS... The University of Minnesota Duluth enters the week with a 20-10 (10-6 NSIC) record. UMD is coming off a weekend in which they went 0-4 against Concordia, St. Paul and Minnesota State. On offense, the Bulldogs hit .314 as a team with 248 hits, 188 runs (6.27 per game), 175 RBI, an NSIC-best 66 doubles, six triples, and an NSIC-second-best 36 home runs. The Minn. Duluth pitching staff has compiled a 3.16 ERA and 160 strikeouts while allowing a .258 average to opposing hitters. The Bulldogs are scheduled to play a doubleheader against Bemidji State University ahead of the two-bill against the Peacocks.

HANDLING THE HUSKIES... St. Cloud State University holds a record of 17-9 (6-6 NSIC) heading into the weekend. The Huskies lead the conference in hitting with a .363 average as they have totaled 254 hits, 179 runs (6.88 per game), 151 RBI, 37 doubles, an NSIC-leading 11 triples, and an NSIC-third-best 34 home runs. The St. Cloud pitchers have recorded a 2.69 ERA and 153 strikeouts while allowing a .250 batting average to opponents. The Huskies are scheduled to play a pair of NSIC doubleheaders against the University of Minnesota Crookston and #21 Winona State University prior to their matchup with Upper Iowa.