THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK BASEBALL… After a midweek cancellation and a delay to the weekend series, Upper Iowa is finally set to resume their spring season this week. The Peacocks are scheduled to play eight games in the next seven days with the first five coming in Fayette at Robertson Woods Field. UIU will host the Wolves of Northern State University on Monday and Tuesday in a three-game series with both days of action starting at 12 p.m. On Wednesday, the Peacocks will welcome the Golden Eagles of the University of Minnesota Crookston to town for a double header beginning at 1:30 p.m. Upper Iowa will then travel to Minot State University in Minot, North Dakota to battle the Beavers in a three-game series on Saturday and Sunday, Apr. 2-3. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. both days. All eight games on the schedule will count toward the Northern Sun Conference standings.
LIVE OPTIONS… Fans that can't make it to Fayette or Minot for the games can follow along with a couple of live options provided by the UIU and MiSU Sports Communication offices. Live stats and a webcast will be provided for all 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 all home games 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.
IN THE BOX… Jerry Garcia is leading the team in hitting with a .310 average with 13 hits including a pair of doubles and a home run.
Ryan Hull is second on the team with a .286 average; the centerfielder has a team-high 14 hits including two doubles and a triple.
Nicolas Vite has a .273 average with nine hits including a double, a triple and a homer.
Ethan Sawyer has driven in a team-high 13 Peacocks on 11 hits, while Hull and Vite share the team lead in runs scored with eight apiece.
FROM THE MOUND… Sam Marhefke has been impressive in his four relief appearances allowing just three runs over his 12.1 innings. The righty has struck out 12 batters and only allowed opponents a .205 batting average on eight hits.
Keaton Parker,
Jarrett Ramer and
Colin Lacey have combined to eat up the majority of UIU's innings on the mound. Parker is 0-3 with a 5.21 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 19.0 innings logged, while Ramer is 0-3 with a 7.07 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 14.0 innings. Lacey is 1-2 with a shared shutout in the season opener; the southpaw has a 7.36 ERA in 14.2 innings with 15 strikeouts.
QUICK FEET… The Peacock offense has generated 25 extra-base hits, but opponents have had a hard time keeping them at first base when they have reached on 66 singles and 47 free passes (walks and hit batters). UIU has stolen 30 bases in 35 attempts this season for an 85.7% success rate.
Cael Luzum is leading the way with eight in nine attempts, while Vite is 8-8 and Garcia and Hull both have four to their name.
SCOUTING THE WOLVES… The Wolves come into the series with a 6-9 overall record and a 1-1 mark in the conference. NSU split with Concordia University, St. Paul last Thursday. Ramon Vega Jr. leads Northern State with a .319 average with 15 hits, while Reece Ragatz is hitting .286 with 16 hits including five doubles and two home runs. The team is hitting .253 and slugging .357 through the first 15 games. On the mound, Max Otto has been a workhorse with 30 innings and a 2.40 ERA with a 4-1 record. Otto is holding opponents to a .227 batting average.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES... Minnesota Crookston went 8-11 in non-conference games, but have opened the NSIC season with a 3-2 mark with a win over the University of Sioux Falls and a double header sweep over Concordia-St. Paul. Jake Hjelle leads the UMC offense with a .330 average with 30 hits and 26 RBI, while both Brad Morris (.309) and Matt Nunn (.300) are above .300 as well. Jake Dykhoff is the Golden Eagles' ace with a 1.51 ERA in 41.2 innings and 50 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting .213 off Dykhoff.
SCOUTING THE BEAVERS... The Beavers are 9-13 overall and 3-4 in the NSIC with conference wins over Minnesota State University, Mankato, the University of Sioux Falls and Winona State University. Minot State is led by Kaiden Cardoso at the plate with a .338 average including 26 hits, 13 walks and 19 RBI. Ricky Apodaca (.325) and Drew Behling (.310, 22 RBI) have also had success at the dish this season. RJ Martinez has been Minot's top pitcher with an ERA of 0.75 and a 2-0 record in 24.0 innings. Jordan Chappell and Apodaca have also thrown quite a bit accounting for 30.0 and 27.2 innings, respectively.
