The Upper Iowa University softball team fell in a pair of road games against No. 18 Minnesota State University, Mankato. UIU fell by a score of 6-0 in game one, but the Peacocks did not allow a single earned run as four errors proved to be the team's undoing. In game two, the Peacocks and Mavericks traded blows as runs were scored in four consecutive half-innings. Despite the Upper Iowa comeback effort, Minnesota State held on for the 5-3 victory.
GAME 1: Minnesota State 6, Upper Iowa 0
Game one started in a defensive duel as Upper Iowa stranded a runner in each of the first two frames before Minnesota State left the bases loaded in the bottom of the second.
In the bottom of the third, the Mavericks hit a double to put a runner in scoring position with one out. A UIU error in the ensuing at-bat gave MSU a 1-0 lead as an unearned run came across.
Abby McKay recorded what should've been an inning-ending strikeout, and with two-down the Mavericks slapped a single up the middle that bumped their newfound lead to 2-0 despite neither run being earned.
The Peacocks got a leadoff single from
Payton Kastenschmidt in the top of the fourth as they looked to counter the MSU scoring spurt. After two quick outs,
Samantha Jessie worked a walk and
Emily Draeger hit a single to load the bases full of Peacocks. A strikeout left the bases loaded and kept the UIU deficit at two.
Minnesota State would add to that deficit with a trio of unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth. A hit-by-pitch, a sacrifice bunt, and a fly out put a MSU runner on third with two outs, and a UIU error allowed the Mavericks to push the score to 3-0. A two-run home run in the next at-bat made it a 5-0 ball game without any earned runs coming across the plate.
The Mavericks would tack on another unearned run in the fifth frame as the fourth UIU error of the day made the score 6-0. After neither team reached base in the sixth, the Peacocks got a pinch-hit, two-out single from
Sara Jessie in the top of the seventh as they looked to spark a comeback. The spark did not catch flame as Upper Iowa grounded out in the next at-bat, ending the game with a score of 6-0.
GAME 2: Minnesota State 5, Upper Iowa 3
Game two's start was nearly identical to game one as the Peacocks went down in order in each of the first three innings and the Mavericks left runners on base in their first two offensive attempts before scoring in the bottom of the third. MSU singled to lead off their half of the third frame, and after striking out they notched another single ahead of a bases-clearing triple to take a 2-0 lead.
Sydney Wilcox recorded two quick outs to strand the MSU runner on third and bring up the UIU bats.
Upper Iowa came up with an immediate answer in the top of the fourth inning as
Amanda Williams and
Payton Kastenschmidt hit back-to-back one-out singles ahead of a
Katie Crogan double that cut the MSU lead to 2-1. Wilcox helped provide herself with some run support in the ensuing at-bat as she reached on an error and saw Kastenschmidt score to knot the score at two runs apiece. Wilcox stole second to give the Peacocks two runners in scoring position with one down, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the UIU scoring stretch.
The Mavericks hit a leadoff home run to retake the lead in the bottom of the fourth, and they quickly followed the long ball with a single to start their half of the fourth frame off strong. MSU laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner and then got to third due to a wild pitch. A single to shortstop in the next at-bat built the MSU lead back to two at 4-2 before the end of the inning.
Needing to come up with another answer, the Peacocks got a leadoff walk from pinch hitter Callista Brockman.
Ari Charles advanced the runner with a successful sacrifice bunt, and Williams slapped a two-out single up the middle to cut the deficit to one at 4-3. Kastenschmidt followed the hit with a single of her own as the number two and three hitters singled in back-to-back at-bats for the second time, and the knocks made the Mavericks pull their starting pitcher. Williams and Kastenschmidt advanced on a wild pitch to give UIU two runners in scoring position, but
Katie Crogan struck out to end the inning and strand the pair of Peacocks.
Minnesota State went down in order in the bottom of the fifth, and Upper Iowa got a one-out double from
Samantha Jessie to put the tying run in scoring position in the top of the sixth. Jessie made it to third on a passed ball following a fly out, but the Peacocks would strand the tying run on third for the second straight inning after another strikeout.
The Mavericks reached on an error to lead off the bottom of the sixth, and a sacrifice bunt pushed the runner into scoring position. MSU successfully stole third, and after the throw down the line wound up in left field the Mavericks tacked on another run thanks to a UIU error to go up 5-3.
Kaylee Frenette hit a one-out single to bring the tying tun to the plate for the heart of the Upper Iowa batting order, but the Peacocks were unable to complete the comeback as they fell by a score of 5-3 against Minnesota State.
UP NEXT... The Peacocks continue their road trip with a doubleheader matchup against the University of Minnesota Duluth at 1 p.m. on Apr. 24. UIU will then see St. Cloud State at 12 p.m. on Apr. 25 for another NSIC two-bill.
