THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCKS BASEBALL… Upper Iowa opens up its 2021 campaign in Kansas City, Mo. with a four-game series against the Hawks of Rockhurst University. While the games are UIU's first action of the year, the Hawks have opened the year with a 4-3 record. The games will take place on Sunday and Monday with first pitch of the double headers scheduled for 1 p.m. All four games will be seven-inning affairs after moving back a day due to temperatures on Saturday in Kansas City.
FOLLOW THE ACTION... Live stats will be available for all four games using the link above or at UIUPeacocks.com/Live.
ONE FINAL CHECK IN THE MIRROR... Last season, the Peacocks posted a 13-26 record on the year (11-21 NSIC) and finished 13th in the conference. The team posted a 6-8 record in one-run games and an 0-2 mark in two-run affairs. Duncan Snider and Noah Gyldenvand were named to the NSIC All-Defensive Team becoming just the seventh and eighth Peacocks in the program's Northern Sun Conference history to receive the honor and marking the first time an Upper Iowa player has earned the achievement since 2018.
AT THE PLATE… The Peacocks return a few of their top offensive weapons from the 2021 season. Jake Hilmer (.379/.500/.419) are both back this season Sam Grushkin (.272/.376/.374), but Hilmer will not play this weekend in Kansas City as he is also the starting point guard for the No. 14/12 UIU men's basketball team. Hilmer tallied 53 hits last season and scored 33 runs. Grushkin's 34 hits including 10 doubles and a home run; the third baseman scored 25 runs and drove in 21. Noah Gyldenvand (26) and Ryan Hull (28) combined for 54 hits. UIU will look to improve on their 4.5 runs/game and .251 team batting average from a year ago in 2022.
ON THE HILL… Jarrett Ramer heads to the hill again this year with the most innings (46.1) under his belt from last season. The Kenosha, Wis. product started 10 games and made one appearance while posting a 5.05 ERA and a 2-6 record while holding opponent batters to a .242 average. Keaton Park also comes back to the bump with 29.2 innings thown last season and a 3.34 ERA in 14 appearances.
NSIC PRESEASON COACHES' POLL… Upper Iowa was selected 12th in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll with 61 points. The reigning NSIC Regular Season and Tournament Champions of Minnesota State University, Mankato were the top pick in the poll. The Mavericks amassed 190 points after receiving nine first place votes. Augustana was a very close second with 188 points and the other six first place votes. St. Cloud State was picked third with 162 points, Minot State was fourth with 159 points and Minnesota Crookston rounded out the top five with 130 points.
SCOUTING THE HAWKS… Rockhurst lost their first three games, but settled in and swept Bemidji State University to set their record at 4-3. Hoyt Bennet (.348) has a team-high eight hits with three doubles and a home run for a .609 slugging percentage. As a team, the Hawks are averaging 3.7 runs a game while hitting .260 with 52 hits including 13 doubles and the Bennett long ball. On the mound, Rockhurst allowed a ton of runs (58) in their opening three losses, but righted the ship giving up only 12 runs in their four wins over the Beavers. Michael Laudando paces the pitching staff with a 3.00 ERA in 12 innings with 22 strikeouts.
UP NEXT… The Peacocks will take on the University of Missouri-St. Louis on Friday, Mar. 4 before facing William Jewell College in a three-game series Mar. 5-7. UIU will host the University of Minnesota Duluth on Mar. 19-20 at Robertson Woods Field to open their home slate.
