THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK BASEBALL… Upper Iowa is set to open Robertson Woods Field for the 2022 season, albeit a day later than originally scheduled. The Peacocks' four-game series with the Bulldogs of the University of Minnesota Duluth was pushed back a day to Sunday and Monday, Mar. 20-21, due to rains across Iowa on Friday. The four-game series will feature a pair of seven/nine-inning double headers although each day will have a different order. The first three games, Sunday's seven/nine-inning double header and Monday's nine-inning game, will all count toward the Northern Sun Conference standings, but the Monday seven-inning game will act as the series finale, but will be a non-conference game.
LIVE OPTIONS… Fans that can't make it to Fayette for the series can follow along with a couple of live options provided by the UIU Sports Communication office. Live stats and a webcast will be provided for all four games. Fans can follow the links above or visit UIUPeacocks.com/Live on gameday to access the live options.
DIGITAL GAMEDAY PROGRAM… Fans can access an interactive and digital gameday program for this weekend's series at any time at UIUPeacocks.com/Programs. The digital programs are available to fans both at our games in Fayette and those at home watching or following the action. QR Codes will be located around the facility to scan with your cell phone's camera that will link you directly to that series' specific digital gameday program.
LEADING THE CHARGE… Jerry Garcia has had a solid start to his season with 12 hits including a pair of double and a homerun to secure a .343 batting average, a .486 slugging percentage, and a .361 on-base percentage. The senior from Chino, Calif. has scored six runs and driven in three.
Nicolas Vite, a junior transfer from Garden City CC, has been good since his insertion into the lineup going 7-23 at the plate for a .304 batting average with a triple and a homerun. Prior to an injury at Purdue University-Northwest A.J. Friedrich had returned to form at the plate; the lefty is hitting .292 on the season with seven hits including a homer.
Ryan Hull and
Ethan Sawyer each have nine hits for the Peacocks as well combining for four doubles, two triples and a homer (Sawyer).
FROM THE MOUND… Keaton Parker leads the Peacocks in innings thrown off the mound this season and earned run average, but carries an 0-2 record due to some defensive miscues. Parker has an ERA of 3.18 with six earned runs allowed across three starts and 17 innings, but five unearned runs have cost the team during his starts.
Sam Marhefke has been solid in three relief appearances as well. He shared a shutout in the season opener with
Colin Lacey and has logged 7.1 innings while holding opponents to just three runs and a .227 batting average. Lacey and
Race Geesink own the two wins for UIU; both came against Rockhurst.
QUICK FEET… The Peacock offense has generated 19 extra-base hits, but opponents have had a hard time keeping them at first base when they have reached on 50 singles and 35 free passes (walks and hit batters). UIU has stolen 23 bases in 27 attempts this season for an 85.2% success rate.
Cael Luzum is leading the way with seven in eight attempts, while Vite is 5-5 and Garcia, Hull, and
Samuel Grushkin all have three to their name.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS… The Bulldogs come into the weekend series with an overall record of 5-7 after losing six of their last seven games including a double header against Concordia University, St. Paul on Thursday and three out of four against Lindenwood University. As a team, UMD is hitting .291 at the plate with 112 hits including 23 doubles, six triples and three home runs. The Bulldogs are averaging 5.0 runs per game, while allowing 7.4 runs per game. The UMD pitching staff has posted an ERA of 8.09, but are led by starter Russ Tanner (1-0, 4.22 ERA, 19 strikeouts) and relievers Ben Reilley (1-0, 1.59 ERA) and Conor Nygard (0-1, 1.93 ERA). At the plate, Jack Puder is hitting .381 with 10 RBI and a .548 slugging percentage, while Tosten Mann is hitting .348 with 11 runs scored and a .543 slugging percentage.
UP NEXT… Upper Iowa remains at home next week with a midweek double header against NSIC-foe Southwest Minnesota State University on Wednesday, Mar. 23 beginning at 1:30 p.m. The Peacocks will then line up against Northern State University on Saturday and Sunday, Mar. 26-27 for a three-game series with games beginning at 12 p.m. both days.
