THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK SOFTBALL… The Upper Iowa University softball team opens their 2022 campaign in Bentonville, Ark., as part of the Alvy Early Memorial Classic. On Saturday, Feb. 12, the Peacocks will play William Jewell College (Mo.) at 11 a.m. and the No.1-ranked University of Texas at Tyler at 1 p.m. On Sunday, Feb. 13, UIU takes on the University of Illinois Springfield at 11 a.m. and Emporia State University at 1 p.m.

FOLLOWING THE ACTION... There are multiple options for fans to keep track of the Peacocks while they are on the road. Attendance will be permitted to spectators who make their way to Bentonville, Ark. Fans can follow @UIU_Softball on Twitter for game day updates before, during, and after the game as the team will be live-Tweeting the action. Fans can also follow @UIUPeacocks on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and head to UIUPeacocks.com to get results as soon as they become available.

2022 PREVIEW... Upper Iowa softball is eager to get back in action with a new coaching staff at the helm for 2022 as Head Coach Kiki Stokes and Assistant Coach Kelsey Aikey take the reins. UIU finished 2021 with a record of 13-30 (9-21 NSIC), just missing the 10-team conference tournament with an 11th-place NSIC finish. The Peacocks compiled a 4-9 non-conference record and went 6-10 against NSIC opponents at home. Thirteen returners and four freshmen newcomers will bolster the team. Kaylee Frenette returns after tying for second in hits (42) and on-base percentage (.387) thanks to a .309 batting average. Dual-threat Sydney Wilcox comes back after pitching in 23 games with 20 starts, going 3-17 with nine complete games, 48 K's, and a 5.27 ERA in 103.2 innings. Wilcox also hit .271, tallied 29 hits, including team second-bests of 10 doubles and three home runs, and scored 15 runs while driving in 17. Newcomers Amelia Fitzgerald, Sophia Heckendorf, Rylee McGonigle, and Laila Pelds will join a squad comprised of three freshmen, eleven sophomores, and three upperclassmen.

NSIC PLAYER TO WATCH... UIU staple Katie Crogan returns for her fifth year after being named to the All-NSIC Second Team for the second time. The first-base stalwart hit a career-high nine homers, tied a career-high with 13 doubles, and had her second-best hitting season with a .375 average. Crogan led the Peacocks in hits (51), doubles (13), home runs (9), runs (25), runs batted in (25), batting average (.375), slugging percentage (.669), on-base percentage (.401), on-base plus slugging percentage (1.070), and total bases (91). She tied for the fifth-most doubles and seventh-most home runs in the NSIC. Over her four-year career, Crogan has slashed .366/.620/.405 with 180 hits, 91 runs, 39 doubles, and 28 home runs while starting all 151 career contests.

NSIC PITCHER TO WATCH... Abby Buckman was named as the Peacock pitcher to watch in 2022. As a freshman, Buckman made a team-high 11 relief appearances in the pitching circle. The Conesville, Iowa native pitched to a 0-1 record with a 7.00 ERA in 17 innings, tallying eight strikeouts and seven walks in 2021. At the plate, Buckman worked a walk in three at-bats for a .333 on-base percentage.

SCOUTING THE COMPETITION... William Jewell College (Mo.) will also be opening their season at the Alvy Early Memorial Classic. The Cardinals went 13-27 last season and enter 2022 losing just one player from 2021's roster. The Peacocks won 4-2 against the Cardinals last year on Feb. 27. The University of Texas at Tyler is 5-0 on the season and ranks No. 1 in the NFCA DII Softball Top 25 Poll. After going 33-7 last season, UT Tyler has outscored its five opponents 51-12 with two wins over Top-25 teams. The University of Illinois Springfield will tee-off its season at the Alvy Early Memorial Classic, playing a five-game slate ending with UIU. The Prairie Stars finished with a 19-27 record last season and return most of their 2021 roster. UIU is 4-1 all-time against UIS, including an 8-4 win last season on Feb. 26. Emporia State University is 3-2 this year and will play five games at the Alvy Early Memorial Classic before facing UIU. Both ESU losses have come by one run, while the Hornets have outscored their opponents 24-7 in three wins. Last season, Emporia State finished with a 21-23 record.