The Upper Iowa University softball team dropped a pair of close contests to conclude their non-conference slate at the Fairfield Inn and Suites Classic in St. Joseph, Mo. In game one, the Peacocks fell 3-2 against the University of Nebraska at Kearney despite scoring first and last. In game two against tournament host Missouri Western State University, UIU erased a 2-0 deficit before MWSU reclaimed and maintained a two-run lead in a 4-2 win. UIU falls to 9-11 on the season.
Nebraska-Kearney 3, Upper Iowa 2
The Peacocks struck first in the bottom of the first thanks to consecutive one-out hits.
Sara Jessie started things off with a single before scoring on an RBI double from
Amelia Fitzgerald in the ensuing at-bat to put UIU up 1-0.
Katie Crogan notched a third straight UIU hit to put runners on the corners, but a double play ended the inning.
Upper Iowa stranded a pair of Peacocks in the third and fourth innings, and Nebraska-Kearney took advantage with one run in the fourth and two in the fifth to go up 3-1. The Lopers took the lead on a two-out, two-run homer in the top of the fifth. UIU responded in the bottom of the fifth by putting the tying runs in scoring position with one out, and Crogan converted an RBI single to cut the deficit to 3-2. However, a double play ended the inning and stranded the tying run on base. The Lopers stranded the tying Peacock on base once again in the bottom of the sixth and held on to win 3-2.
Upper Iowa outhit Nebraska-Kearney 8-7, but UNK was plus-one on the scoreboard despite the one-hit deficit. Two Peacocks notched a perfect percentage at the plate as
Ari Charles tallied a game-high three hits in three at-bats, while Crogan batted 1.000 with a 2-2 clip, a walk, and an RBI. Sar. Jessie went 2-3 (.667) with a run, while Fitzgerald hit 1-3 (.333) with an RBI.
Abby Buckman pitched a strong complete game with three earned runs in 7.0 innings. Buckman matched a career-high with five strikeouts while walking three and allowing seven hits.
Missouri Western State 4, Upper Iowa 2
Sydney Wilcox and the Peacock defense stranded two Missouri Western runners in the bottom of the first after a pair of Griffons reached on an error and a walk to lead off the inning. A pair of Peacocks were left on base in the top of the second after a leadoff hit from Crogan, and the defensive trend continued in the bottom of the second as MWSU was held scoreless after consecutive two-out hits thanks to a defensive play at the plate by the Peacocks.
The game's first runs came in the bottom of the third thanks to a pair of unearned runs from Missouri Western. A fielding error allowed the leadoff batter to reach before consecutive outs that would have ended the inning, but a hit-by-pitch and a double opened the scoring and put MWSU up 2-0 through three.
Upper Iowa's offense had an immediate answer in the top of the fourth as Fitzgerald and Crogan hit consecutive singles to lead off the frame. A one-out, RBI single from Sar. Jessie cut UIU's deficit in half, and Sophia picked up an RBI on a sacrifice bunt in the next at-bat to tie the game at 2-2 before the end of the rally.
However, the tie was short-lived as the Griffons reclaimed their two-run lead with two more unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. A line-out and a groundout gave the UIU defense two quick putouts, but a walk and a single from MWSU put two on with two out. The next batter reached on a fielding error in the outfield that allowed two runs to score, giving Missouri Western a 4-2 edge.
A leadoff single by Fitzgerald followed by Crogan reaching on an error saw UIU put two Peacocks on the bases with no outs, but the tying runs were left on base in the top of the sixth. Upper Iowa returned the favor by stranding a pair of Griffons in the bottom of the sixth to keep the deficit at two.
Hannah Bridgewater got plunked to lead off the seventh inning and bring the tying run to the plate for UIU. A one-out single by
Kaylee Frenette saw the Peacocks put the tying runs on base, but a strikeout and a foul-out ended the game with a 4-2 edge for MWSU on the scoreboard.
Each team tallied six hits, but five errors on the UIU defense proved to be the difference as all four of MWSU's runs were unearned. Wilcox took the loss after finishing with four strikeouts, one walk, and two HBPs while allowing six hits in 6.0 innings. Fitzgerald hit 2-4 (.500) with a run, Crogan hit 2-3 (.667), and Sar. Jessie and Bridgewater notched UIU's two RBI.
Up next, the Peacocks are set to open their Northern Sun Conference campaign on Tuesday, Mar. 29, against Winona State University. UIU is slated to play a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. in Winona, Minn.
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