The Upper Iowa University softball team fell in their final pair of games of the 2021 season. No. 1 Augustana Universtiy (S.D.) claimed a 13-1 victory in a first game that went five innings due to run rule before securing a 7-0 win in game two.<br />   <hr /><strong>GAME 1: Augustana 13, Upper Iowa 1 (5 Inn.)</strong><br /> <br /> The first two Augustana batters reached base to lead off the game, and a one-out RBI-double gave AU a 1-0 lead. A two-run single followed by an RBI groundout made it a 4-0 ball game before the end of the inning.<br /> <br /> Back-to-back Vikings got aboard after two UIU errors from third base opened the second inning. Abby McKay recorded what should have been an inning-ending strikeout, but Augustana took advantage of their extra outs as they tacked on six unearned runs on four hits to take a 10-0 advantage.<br /> <br /> A single and a one-out home run opened a 12-0 lead in the top of the third frame as Abby Buckman came on in relief for McKay. A single and a groundout that saw the runner advance to third put runners on the corners, and the next Viking hitter reached on an error as a run came across to make it a 13-0 ball game before the end of the inning.<br /> <br /> Both teams went down in order in their next half-innings before Kristin Sadler slapped a pinch-hit triple to right field to give UIU a runner on third without an out as the hit broke up a perfect first three innings for AU. Amanda Williams picked up a bunt single in the next at-bat, and Payton Kastenschmidt picked up an RBI-groundout with one out to score the first Peacock run of the game in the fourth. <br /> <br /> After a one, two, three top of the fifth for the UIU defense, Callista Brockman reached on an error with two outs ahead of a single from Kaitlyn Carlson that put two Peacocks on with two down. Upper Iowa was unable to cut the lead under eight to extend the game as a fly out clinched the 13-1 final in five innings due to run rule. <br />   <hr /><strong>GAME 2: Augustana 7, Upper Iowa 0</strong><br /> <br /> After a one-out single in the top of the first, the Peacock defense turned an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play to face the minimum number of batters. Kaylee Frenette worked a leadoff walk in the bottom of the first, but the Peacocks left her stranded with three consecutive outs.<br /> <br /> The Vikings stranded a runner after a leadoff single in the top of the second, and Upper Iowa went down in order in the bottom of the inning. Both squads left a runner on in the third, but the score stayed 0-0 through three.<br /> <br /> In the top of the fourth, the Augies led off with a bunt single ahead of a hit-by-pitch that put two on with no outs. A one-out RBI-double scored the first run of the game, and an RBI-single in the next at-bat made it a 2-0 ball game. Augustana tacked on an unearned run after scoring on an error during an attempt to catch a runner stealing to go up 3-0 before the end of their half of the third. Katie Crogan picked up the first hit for the Peacocks to lead off the bottom of the fourth, and Sydney Wilcox wore one to put two on with two outs. UIU left the Peacock pair stranded to end the fourth frame.<br /> <br /> Upper Iowa stranded two in the bottom of the fifth after Aubree Terris and Amanda Williams worked walks, and Augustana stranded two of their own in the top of the sixth. <br /> <br /> Looking to hold the score at 3-0 and give themselves the best shot at a comeback in the seventh inning, the UIU defense was in trouble early as a walk, a bunt single with an error that advanced the runner to third, and a stolen base gave the Vikings two runners in scoring position with no outs. A fielder's choice sacrifice bunt scored a run and saw another run score on the throw to give AU a 5-0 lead. A single in the ensuing at-bat made it a 6-0 game and saw Abby Buckman come in to pitch in relief of Wilcox. The Vikings welcomed Buckman with an RBI-single to go up 7-0 before a fielder's choice and two outs to Wilcox in right field ended the inning.<br /> <br /> The Peacocks went down in order in the bottom of the seventh as Augustana secured the series sweep with a 7-0 win.<br /> <br />