The Upper Iowa University softball team opened their season with a triple-header at the Alvy Early Memorial Classic in Bentonville, Ark. The Peacocks took on the University of Illinois Springfield, Emporia State University, and Northeastern State University, going 0-3 while showing substantial game-by-game improvement.

In game one against the University of Illinois Springfield, UIU fell 8-0 in a game that went five innings due to run rule. The Peacocks scored their first runs of the season in game two on a Katie Crogan home run that put them up 3-1 in the third inning, but UIU ultimately fell 7-3 to Emporia State University. In the day's final game, Upper Iowa faced an uphill battle after Northeastern State University took a 7-0 lead through 2.5 innings. The Peacocks battled back from the big deficit and brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh but fell 10-8 against NSU.
Illinois Springfield 8, Upper Iowa 0, (5 Inn.)

The Prairie Stars got off to a quick start against the Peacocks with three runs in the bottom of the first to take an early lead. Fitzgerald hit a leadoff triple in the second, but Upper Iowa could not bring her home and faced a 5-0 deficit through two innings. UIU stranded Kaylee Frenette in the third inning, and UIS added to their lead with a leadoff homer before three strikeouts from Abby Buckman.

Katie Crogan singled to lead off the fourth inning, but the Prairie Stars tacked on another run after a pitching change and led 7-0 through four. A single and a steal from Ari Charles and a single from Frenette had UIU threatening, but the runners were stranded before Illinois Springfield tacked on another run to end the game due to run rule with an 8-0 win in five innings.
Emporia State 7, Upper Iowa 3

The Upper Iowa defense was stingy to start as they sat the Hornets down in order in the first before Aubree Terris ended the second inning by throwing out a runner on an attempted steal. Two walks and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for UIU in the bottom of the second, but the Peacocks could not convert a run. Emporia State took advantage by scratching first in the top of the third, but the Peacocks responded with a three-spot in the bottom of the inning. Consecutive singles from Sara Jessie and Amelia Fitzgerald set the table for Crogan in the cleanup spot, and the All-NSIC Second Teamer delivered in a big way with a three-run home run to put UIU ahead 3-1.

The lead would not last as ESU loaded the bases with singles before tacking on four runs to reclaim the lead, 5-3. UIU left three runners on over the next two innings as the score remained 5-3, and the Hornets stung next with two seventh inning runs after a triple and a double. The Peacocks could not come back in the bottom of the seventh, falling 7-3 in game two.
 
Northeastern State 10, Upper Iowa 8

The River Hawks swooped in with a leadoff home run to take a quick 1-0 lead. UIU put two on in the bottom of the first, but the runners were left on base. A two-run homer in the second inning put NSU up 3-0, and they closed the top of the second with a five-run edge. The Peacocks put runners on the corners with two outs in the bottom of the inning to turn the order over, but UIU could not bring them home.

An error and a walk to lead off the third inning helped Northeastern State tack two more runs onto their lead, 7-0. Upper Iowa got on the board in the bottom of the third thanks to a double from Sara Jessie, a single from Crogan, and an RBI from Samantha Jessie. Sydney Wilcox and Terris worked back-to-back walks to score Crogan, cutting UIU's deficit to 7-2 through three. The Peacocks kept the momentum rolling with a shutout inning before cutting their deficit in half, 7-4, with a two-run round-tripper Fitzgerald after a single from Frenette. The Peacocks loaded the bases on a HBP from Crogan, a double from Wilcox, and a walk from Terris after a pitching change by the River Hawks, but NSU got out of the jam to keep it 7-4.

Northeastern State added a run in the fifth to double up on UIU, 8-4, but Upper Iowa kept its foot on the gas thanks to Crogan's second three-run shot of the day. The long ball sailed over the center field fence, scoring Sara Jessie and Fitzgerald after Frenette reached to start the spurt. Samantha Jessie maintained the momentum with a double, but UIU ended the fifth inning down just one, 8-7. NSU hit a two-out home run to push their advantage to 9-7 in the top of the sixth, and the UIU offense stalled out with a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth.

The River Hawks hit a leadoff homer in the top of the seventh, going ahead 10-7, before the Peacocks retired the next three batters. With the top of the order up to bat, UIU needed one last comeback push in their final at-bats. Frenette reached on an error to lead off the inning before advancing on an out from Sara Jessie. Fitzgerald singled to put runners on the corners before Crogan hit an RBI groundout, cutting the deficit to 10-8 and bringing the tying run to the plate. The Peacocks were unable to complete the impressive comeback, falling 10-8 in their final game of the day.
UP NEXT... The Peacocks are scheduled to play in the Lewis Flyer Dome Invitational for the second consecutive season as the head to Rosemont, Ill. from Feb. 24-25 for four games. On Thursday, Feb. 24, UIU is set to see Saginaw Valley State University at 11 a.m. before playing Purdue University Northwest at 3:30 p.m. On Friday, Feb. 25, UIU will play the University of Wisconsin-Parkside at 9 a.m. before a matchup against Ursuline College at 11 a.m.