Upper Iowa and the University of Minnesota Duluth wrapped up their four-game series at Prospect Meadows in Marion, Iowa. UMD claimed the sweep with two wins including an 8-2 win in the final conference matchup and a 13-6 win in the non-conference series finale.
 
The Bulldogs racked up 21 runs on 23 hits on the day led by Trevor Gustafson, who had five hits and three runs batted in. Alex Watterman picked up four hits and three RBI, while Brodie Paulson added three hits and two RBI.
 
The Peacocks scored eight runs on nine hits in the two games. Ryan Hull paced the team with four hits and a pair of runs driven in, while Jake Hilmer and Tanner Stein each had two hits apiece.
 
Minnesota Duluth opened the game's scoring with four runs on three hits and a Peacock error in the second inning. After a pair of singles that found holes in the infield and a wild pitch, the Bulldogs got a third straight single that drove in a pair of runs to take the early lead. An error on the infield and a passed ball allowed two unearned runs to score and give UMD a 4-0 lead. The visitors added a run in the third after a leadoff double from Tosten Mann to push their lead to 5-0.
 
Tanner Stein hit a double to the gap in left to open the sixth inning and came home with one out on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Ryan Hull to pull back within four, 5-1.
 
UMD loaded the bases with two hit batters and a walk with one out in the seventh inning. After a strikeout, a single through the left side by Trevor Gustafson pushed two runs home and extended the Bulldog lead to 7-1. After a fourth free pass in the inning loaded the bases for a second time, but Nicholas Pica got a strikeout to close out the threat. Minnesota Duluth added a run on three hits in the eighth to push their advantage to 8-1.
 
An error and a walk allowed Upper Iowa a pair of runners to open the bottom of the eighth inning and Ryan Hull was able to push one Peacocks across the plate to cut the margin back to six, 8-2.
 
Isaac Benesh earned the win with 7.1 innings on the mound. The lefty allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits while posting five strikeouts. Chad Fox cleaned up the eight and ninth innings with two strikeouts.
 
Jarrett Ramer fell to 0-3 on the year after allowing five runs, only two earned, on five hits over six innings; the righty struck out seven Bulldogs.
 
After the Bulldogs scratched the scoreboard first in the opening frame thanks to a pair of Peacock errors on the infield in game two, the Peacocks answered with three runs on a hit and three Bulldog errors. The hit was a bunt single by Ryan Hull, while the only run pushed in off the bat was on a grounder by Jerry Garcia. The second run scored on a passed ball, while the third run came home on a failed pickoff attempt at first.
 
Minnesota Duluth stole the momentum right back in the top of the second inning. UMD scored four runs on two hits and two walks to pull ahead 5-3. The visitors made it 13-3 with five runs in the fourth inning highlighted by a Sam Tanner grand slam over the right field fence and three more in the fifth sparked by a rbi-triple off the bat of Gustafson.
 
Jake Hilmer hit his second home run of the series in the bottom of the fifth inning to put an end to UIU's scoring drought and give the Peacocks their fourth run of the game. UIU added two runs in the sixth inning when Hunter Destival hit a sacrifice fly and Ethan Sawyer was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. A flyout to center ended the Peacock threat with the bases loaded.  
 
Cael Luzum suffered the loss falling to 0-1 on the season; he threw 3.2 innings and allowed six runs, four earned, on five hits with two strikeouts. Blake Thiesse got roughed up in relief allowing seven runs, six earned, on seven hits. Both Brady Stevens and Grant Ver Voort threw scoreless innings of relief to slow the Bulldogs down in the sixth and seventh innings.
 
Conor Nygard picked up the win with two innings of scoreless relief for the Bulldogs. Nygard worked the second and third innings without allowing a hit.
 
The Peacocks are scheduled to continue their homestand with five more games this week, but weather may come into play again to alter the current schedule. Upper Iowa is slated to host Southwest Minnesota State University on Wednesday, Mar. 23 for a double header and then welcome Northern State University on Saturday and Sunday, Mar. 26-27 for a three-game series.