THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK SOFTBALL… The Upper Iowa University softball team opens its 2022 Northern Sun Conference campaign. UIU was scheduled to play Winona State University on Tuesday, Mar. 29, at 2 p.m. in Winona, Minn., but that doubleheader has been postponed due to weather. The Peacocks are set to host the University of Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State University for a pair of doubleheaders on Apr. 2-3. UIU competes against the Cougars at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Apr. 2, at the Eischeid Softball Complex before a matchup with the Mustangs at 12 p.m. on Sunday, Apr. 3.
FOLLOWING THE ACTION... Live stats and webcasts for all games will be available through the links at UIUPeacocks.com/Live and included with this story. The games will also stream live on the new NSIC Network app through Roku and Fire devices and Apple and Android TV. Search for "NSIC Network" to find the app on your relevant device. Additionally, The @UIU_Softball Twitter account will have gameday updates before, during, and after the games as the team will be live-Tweeting the action.
LAST TIME IN PEACOCK SOFTBALL… The Peacocks went 1-3 at The Fairfield Inn and Suites Classic in St. Joseph, Mo. On Mar. 19, Upper Iowa fell 9-3 against the University of Nebraska at Kearney before a 5-4 win over the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. The Peacocks took a quick 2-0 lead in game one, but five runs in the fifth propelled UNK to the win. UWP took a 3-0 first-inning lead in game two and led 4-0 in the fourth, but UIU battled back with five straight for a comeback victory. On Mar. 20, Upper Iowa fell 3-2 against Nebraska-Kearney despite scoring first and last. The Peacocks then lost 4-2 against tournament host Missouri Western State University in a game where UIU erased a 2-0 deficit before MWSU reclaimed and maintained a two-run lead.
RECORD-SETTING PACE… Katie Crogan is putting up record-setting numbers through 20 games this season. Crogan's .474 batting average ranks third in the NSIC, ties for 32nd in DII, and is on pace to break the Upper Iowa single-season record of .460 set by Tess Ira in 1988. The Watertown, Wis. native's .930 slugging percentage paces the NSIC and ranks 10th nationally, and the percentage would break the UIU record of .875 set by Chyanne Kleve in 2003. Crogan has reached base at a .563 clip, good for second in the NSIC, 15th nationally, and on track to best the UIU record of .507 set by Ira in 1988. The super senior's 34 RBI lead the NSIC, and she ranks third in DII with 1.7 RBI per game. The 34 RBI are already the 10th-highest season total in UIU history and are 18 away from the top mark of 52 set by
Jacqueline Flood in 2015. Crogan's seven homers rank second in the NSIC, and she is six away from breaking the UIU record of 12 set by Priscilla Rubalcava in 2004. With her strong start this season, Crogan has moved up Upper Iowa's career record book: she is tied for the third-most hits in UIU history with 207, 13 away from the program record; she ranks second in doubles with 44, three away from the record; she broke a tie and owns sole possession of most homers with 35 and counting; she ranks fourth in runs scored with 111, 15 away from the record; and she jumped into first for RBIs with 161 and counting.
BRUISED BUT ON-BASE… The Peacocks have put their bodies on the line to get on base. UIU batters have been plunked 28 times this season, a mark that tops the NSIC by 11 and tied for the 14th-most in the nation at the DII level. The Upper Iowa offense averages 1.4 HBP per game, and two Peacocks have combined for 20 of the physical free bases.
Sara Jessie's 12 HBP lead the way and are tied for the most in the country, good for a 0.6 HBP per game mark that ties for first nationally.
Hannah Bridgewater has been hit eight times, tied for 15
th in DII, and her .42 HBP per game average ranks eighth.
CONQUERING THE COUGARS… Sioux Falls was 12-9 in non-conference contests and is scheduled to face SMSU and UIU to start their NSIC slate. The Cougars were voted to finish ninth in the 2022 NSIC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll after a 23-24 (15-14 NSIC) 2021 campaign. The USF offense hits .295 with 172 hits, 111 runs (5.29/game), 93 RBI, 21 doubles, two triples, and 15 home runs. Cougar pitchers have compiled a 3.75 ERA and 94 strikeouts while allowing a .297 opponent batting average.
MANAGING THE MUSTANGS… Southwest Minnesota State was 8-15 in non-conference matchups and is slated to face WSU and USF in NSIC play before seeing UIU. The Mustangs were tabbed to finish eighth in the 2022 NSIC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll after a 27-20 (17-13 NSIC) 2021 record. The SMSU offense hits .294 with 171 hits, 90 runs (4.19/game), 78 RBI, 34 doubles, two triples, and five home runs. Mustang pitchers have compiled a 6.24 ERA and 85 strikeouts while allowing a .322 opponent batting average.
