Upper Iowa split its slate of games Saturday, first falling 10-2 to the University of Minnesota Duluth before coasting to a 14-3 win over the Bulldogs. Saturday's split along with Friday's sweep secured the Peacocks a 2-1 conference series victory in addition to a non-conference win in the series finale. Game two's 14 runs marked Upper Iowa's first time scoring 10 or more this season and is the most scored by UIU since April 2019. Hogan Penny had five RBI in the second set, the most registered by a Peacock since he accomplished the same feat in the 2020 season. Five Peacocks had a multi-hit game in the second matchup. Following the twinbill, Upper Iowa becomes 8-9 overall and an even 6-6 in the NSIC while Duluth moves to 5-12 on the year, 3-10 in conference play.

GAME ONE: Minnesota Duluth 10, Upper Iowa 2

Upper Iowa took an initial 2-0 lead to begin the game. Ryan Hull reached on an error before Hogan Penny singled with both the runners advancing into scoring position on another UMD defensive miscue. Alex Greene grounded out to the left side scoring the first run for UIU in the opening frame. The Peacocks second run came in the top of the fourth. Jake Hilmer led things off with a single before advancing all the way to third on a wild pitch and a stolen base. Samuel Grushkin shot a double to the opposite field scoring Hilmer and giving Upper Iowa a 2-0 advantage.

It was all Bulldogs from that point forward as UMD scored 10 unanswered runs. Duluth's biggest inning came in the fifth which was led off by a triple from Tim Pokornoski sparking a six-run inning as the Bulldogs batted through the order. Minnesota Duluth added four more in the seventh extending its lead to the final score of 10-2. 

Upper Iowa saw six arms as Jarrett Ramer got the start and was awarded the loss after giving up six earned runs on six hits and a walk while striking out six in 4.2 innings of work. Prior to the fifth, Ramer had faced just 12 batters as he shut down all 12 consecutively.  Keaton Parker then provided 1.1 scoreless innings in relief prior to Grant Ver Voort coming in and allowing the final four runs to come across on two hits and a pair of free passes. Chris Harsh, Brennan Sefrit, and Steve Marhefke combined to close out the game and keep the Bulldogs from committing any further damage. Sefrit highlighted the trio striking out two in 1.1 innings.

GAME TWO: Upper Iowa 14, Minnesota Duluth 3

The Peacocks scored first for the third consecutive game. It was Ryan Hull who got things started reaching on an error before Jake Hilmer singled to put two on. Grushkin followed and drove in Hull with a single giving UIU a 1-0 lead in the first.

UMD evened things up at one after a pair of doubles in the bottom of the second. The Peacock offense then exploded for five runs in the ensuing frame. Hilmer walked and advanced on a wild pitch before a double off the bat of Alex Greene brought him home. A pair of singles from Grushkin and Penny scored Greene before Grushkin crossed the plate himself on a wild pitch preceded by a stolen base. AJ Friedrich doubled in Penny providing the fourth run of the inning before scoring himself and acting as the final run of the frame on a single off the bat of Noah Gyldenvand. 

Duluth added two more in the fourth on the Bulldogs' fifth double of the day narrowing UMD's deficit to 6-3. Jason Katz started the game going three innings allowing two earned runs on five hits and a walk while fanning two. Kiley Brown faced one batter allowing a run to score before being relieved by Colin Lacey who shut out the side to end the fourth. Steve Marhefke followed Lacey on the mound, providing 1.2 innings of scoreless baseball.

Nolan Friedrichs singled ahead of a Gyldenvand double in the following frame to put two on. Kyle Routhieaux cleared the bases with a single to left field giving UIU an 8-3 advantage. UIU manufactured six more, one in the sixth and another five in the seventh. Hilmer walked then advanced on a steal and an error before headed home on a fielder's choice. In the seventh, Routhieaux and Hilmer were plunked back-to-back before consecutive wild pitches scored Routhieaux. Greene and Grushkin both walked to load the bases before Hogan Penny cleared them with a double down the left-field line. Friedrich then singled up the middle bringing Penny home for the 14th and final run of the ballgame

SJ Mousseau retired the side in the bottom half ending the game. Lacey was granted his second win of the season after 1.1 scoreless innings on the hill allowing one base hit and striking out one.

PEACOCKS OF THE DAY… 

• Penny: 3-7 w/ a 2B, 5 RBI, 2 R, 1 HBP, 1 SB, 1 SH

• Grushkin: 4-8 w/ a 2B, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB

• Gyldenvand: 3-8 w/ a 2B, 1 R, 1 RBI

• Friedrich: 2-4 w/ a 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB 

• Routhieaux: 2-4, 2 RBI, 1 R, 2 HBP