THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK SOFTBALL… Upper Iowa softball continues its ten-game homestand with a trio of doubleheaders at the Eischeid Softball Complex. The Peacocks open the week by welcoming No. 18 Minnesota State University, Mankato at 12/2 p.m. on Tuesday, Apr. 12. UIU then sees St. Cloud State University at 1/3 p.m. on Friday, Apr. 15, before lining up against the University of Minnesota Duluth at 12/2 p.m. on Saturday, Apr. 16.

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. Locally, Friday's games against SCSU will air live on KCRG-TV's 9.2, while Saturday's action against UMD will air live on Eastern Iowa's CW 9.3.

SAAC "IT'S ON US" CAMPAIGN… Tuesday's doubleheader will recognize the Student Athlete Advisory Committee's "It's On Us" campaign. One Love Foundation is a national non-profit organization with the goal of ending relationship abuse. They empower young people with the tools and resources they need to see the signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships and bring life-saving prevention education to their communities. Understanding the signs of unhealthy relationships before they become abuse is critical to changing the statistics around relationship abuse over time. April is Sexual Assault Awareness month. It's on us to help spread awareness. The Upper Iowa softball team will be wearing a purple ribbon on their gloves or shoes to spread awareness and bring attention to relationship abuse. UIU SAAC reps will be coming around with brochures to help spread awareness.

LAST TIME IN PEACOCK SOFTBALL… The Peacocks went 5-1 over three doubleheaders as the road team, despite playing two series in Fayette. UIU split against Wayne State College on Apr. 6, winning 8-5 before falling 7-3. Upper Iowa then outscored Bemidji State University and the University of Minnesota Crookston 43-17 over four games, winning 9-4 and 6-0 over BSU on Apr. 9 before winning 15-8 and 13-5 (5 Inn.) over UMC on Apr. 10.

MAKING HITS-ORY… Katie Crogan hit her way into the Peacock history books, becoming Upper Iowa's all-time hits leader (226) and adding to a record-breaking season that has seen her set the UIU career mark for hits, doubles (50), home runs (38), and RBI (175). She went 15-for-25 (.600) with 11 RBI, eight runs, five doubles, and two home runs to help UIU win five of six. The graduate senior hit 3-4 with three runs, two doubles, and two RBI in a win over WSC; hit 4-4 with three RBI, two runs, a homer, and a double against BSU; hit 4-5 with five RBI, one run, one homer, and one double against UMC. Crogan leads the NSIC in batting average (.505), slugging percentage (.956), on-base percentage (.570), and RBI (48) while ranking third in homers (10), fourth in hits (46), and fifth in runs (30) and doubles (11). The Watertown, Wisc. native is the second-best hitter in NCAA DII with a .505 average while ranking second nationally in on-base percentage and RBI per game (1.66), sixth in slugging and total RBI, and 14th in homers per game (.34).

FITZ-MAGIC… Amelia Fitzgerald is coming off a big week where she hit 11-25 (.440) with nine RBI, eight runs, two doubles, and three home runs, good for a .880 slugging percentage. The freshman looks to add to a 12-game hitting streak and the NSIC's second-best hits total (48). Against UMC, Fitzgerald finished with seven RBI after hitting a round-tripper in each game, hitting 4-9 (.444) with two runs. The Crystal Lake, Ill. native ranks fifth in the NSIC with a .436 average is tied for fifth with 32 RBI.

DUAL-THREAT… Sydney Wilcox has been Upper Iowa's ace in the circle, but she is also dangerous in the batter's box. The senior went 3-0 in four starts with a 2.43 ERA and 13 strikeouts over 23.0 innings to help UIU go 5-1, including a 1.31 ERA over UIU's 4-0 weekend stretch. Wilcox earned a complete game win over WSC while adding an RBI in each game of the doubleheader. The Shiocton, Wisc. native earned a complete game win over BSU with five strikeouts and two earned runs before starting game two and pitching three innings to combine with Abby Buckman for a shutout win. Wilcox tied her season-high with six strikeouts against UMC, giving up one earned run in six innings before hitting 2-4 with three RBI, two runs, and her first career triple in game two.

ADDITIONAL NOTABLES… After averaging 10.75 runs per game over the weekend, the Peacocks jumped a spot to become the NSIC's second-highest scoring offense with 6.34 runs per game, which ranks 34th in NCAA DII. UIU is tied for 43rd nationally and ranks second in the NSIC with a .391 on-base percentage. The conference's fourth-best batting average (.308) contributes to their OBP, as do 37 hit-by-pitches, which leads the NSIC by 12 and ties for 12th in NCAA DII. Sara Jessie and Hannah Bridgewater have combined for 26 of the bruises, and Jessie's 16 HBPs rank second in the country. Her .55 HBP per game leads DII, while Bridgewater's .37 HBP per game ranks tenth. Sar. Jessie ranks seventh in the NSIC with a .472 OBP, second in runs with 37, and is tied for fourth with six sacrifice bunts.

MANAGING THE No. 18 MAVERICKS… Minnesota State holds a record of 26-10 (8-4 NSIC) and has been nationally ranked all season. The Mavericks hit .286 with 261 hits, 176 runs (4.80/game), 150 RBI, 51 doubles, five triples, and 19 home runs. Mackenzie Ward was named the NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year and the NSIC Pitcher of the Week for the fifth time this week, and her 0.87 ERA and 189 K's lead an MSU staff that has compiled a 1.58 ERA and 253 strikeouts while allowing a .211 opponent batting average.

HOUNDING THE HUSKIES… St. Cloud State is 21-12 (9-3 NSIC) and is scheduled to face Minnesota Crookston before playing the Peacocks. The SCSU offense hits .288 with 261 hits, 160 runs (4,85/game), 148 RBI, 40 doubles, one triple, and 37 home runs; the NSIC's second-best total. St. Cloud pitchers have compiled a 2.30 ERA and 200 strikeouts while allowing a .245 opponent batting average. Sydney Trees leads the Huskies with 30 RBI and 11 home runs, while Trinity Junker (10-5) leads SCSU pitchers with a 1.19 ERA and 121 K's.

BESTING THE BULLDOGS… Minnesota Duluth holds a 23-10 (8-4 NSIC) record and is set to face the Bemidji State and Winona State University before seeing UIU. The UMD offense hits .277 with 242 hits, 177 runs (5.36/game), 161 RBI, 34 doubles, seven triples, and 28 home runs. Bulldog pitchers have compiled a 2.62 ERA and 206 strikeouts while allowing a .251 opponent batting average. Jordyn Thomas (.336 avg., 36 hits, six HR, 25 RBI) and Kiana Bender (.302 avg., 32 hits, five HR, 27 RBI) lead the UMD offense, while Lauren Dixon (9-5) leads UMD pitchers with a 1.82 ERA and 126 K's.

UP NEXT... The Peacocks will be on the road for a pair of weekday doubleheaders against Augustana University and Winona State. UIU heads to Sioux Falls, S.D. to take on AUGIE at 3/5 p.m. on Wednesday, Apr. 20 before playing its previously-postponed matchup with WSU in Winona, Minn. at 2/4 p.m. on Thursday, Apr. 21. Upper Iowa then returns home to conclude the stretch of eight games in five days with doubleheaders against Minot State University and the University of Mary. The Peacocks battle the Beavers at 1/3 p.m. on Saturday, Apr. 23 before matching up with the Marauders at 12/2 p.m. on Sunday, Apr. 24.