The Upper Iowa University softball team had another quick outing at The Spring Games in Auburndale, Fla. on Sunday. In their first of two scheduled games, the Peacocks won in walk-off fashion against Nyack College thanks to a three-run bottom of the fifth that put UIU ahead 9-1, ending the game due to run rule. Upper Iowa was scheduled to face the University of the Sciences in game two, but the contest was canceled due to a lack of umpires. UIU improved to 5-5 with the win and is 3-0 at The Spring Games.

Abby Buckman and the UIU defense got things rolling with a three-up, three-down top of the first inning, and the Peacock offense maintained the early momentum by scoring in the bottom of the first. Kaylee Frenette led off with a bunt single, and Amelia Fitzgerald and Katie Crogan hit consecutive one-out singles as Crogan put UIU ahead 1-0.

The Peacocks thwarted a steal of home after a Nyack double in the second inning to keep a clean sheet, and the defense continued its strong play with three consecutive outs after allowing a Warrior to reach base on a leadoff error in the top of the third. The Peacocks quickly loaded the bases in the bottom of the third after a leadoff single from Sara Jessie, a one-out walk by Crogan, and a one-out single by Calista Brockman. Hannah Bridgewater earned an RBI in the ensuing at-bat after getting hit by a pitch to put UIU up 2-0. Another pitching mishap gave the Peacocks a 3-0 lead as Crogan scored on a wild pitch in the next at-bat. Ari Charles came through with a two-out single to score Jessie and Brockman to give UIU a 5-0 edge, and Samantha Jessie hit an RBI single to score Charles after a stolen base to increase the advantage to 6-0 before the end of the inning. 

After sitting Nyack down 1-2-3 in the top of the fourth with three flyouts to Charles, the Peacocks left the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth after singles from Sara Jessie and Crogan and another HBP for Bridgewater. The Warriors got on the board in the top of the fifth with a one-out solo home run to make it a 6-1 ballgame. The NC push continued as they loaded the bases with two outs after a single and two walks, but Buckman induced a flyout that Bridgewater handled to end the inning and strand three Warriors. The UIU offense made a push of their own as the first five batters reached in the bottom of the fifth. Charles worked a leadoff walk, Sam Jessie hit a single, and Frenette hit an RBI single to put UIU up 7-1. Sara Jessie got plunked to load the bases full of Peacocks, and Fitzgerald took care of business with a walk-off single that scored Sam Jessie and Frenette to clinch a 9-1 Upper Iowa win due to run rule.

Five Peacocks notched multi-hit games, six Peacocks tallied at least one RBI, and seven Peacocks scored at least one run. Abby Buckman picked up her first career win in the circle with a stellar five-inning performance. The sophomore allowed just three hits and one earned run while striking out four and walking just two.

Up next, the Peacocks are scheduled to continue their time at The Spring Games with a doubleheader against Lewis University and Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. UIU is set to face the Flyers at 12:30 p.m. CST (1:30 p.m. local time) on Monday, Mar. 7, before facing the Fighting Scouts at 2:45 p.m. CST (3:45 p.m. EST).