THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK SOFTBALL… Upper Iowa softball hits the road for a doubleheader against No. 12 Augustana University at 3/5 p.m. on Thursday, Apr. 21, in Sioux Falls, S.D. before hosting their final home contests on Apr. 23-24. The Peacocks are set to play Minot State University on Saturday, Apr. 23, at 1/3 p.m. before matching up against the University of Mary at 12/2 p.m. on Sunday, Apr. 24, at the Eischeid Softball Complex.

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, Saturday's and Sunday's twin bills will air live on KCRG-TV 9.2.

SENIOR DAY CELEBRATIONS… Upper Iowa will honor a quintet of departing Peacocks on Sunday against UMary. Katie Crogan, Kaylee Frenette, Sara Jessie, Calista Brockman, and Sydney Wilcox will conclude their Peacock careers at the conclusion of the season, and they will be celebrated between games on Apr. 24.

LAST TIME IN PEACOCK SOFTBALL… The Peacocks went 1-5 over a trio of home doubleheaders. On Apr. 12, UIU fell 8-1 against No. 18 Minnesota State University, Mankato before falling 12-11 in eight innings after a nine-run comeback. Upper Iowa then dropped its doubleheader against St. Cloud State University on Apr. 15, losing 11-7 before falling 14-13 in a back-and-forth battle that saw six lead changes, two ties, and a 12-11 UIU lead in the sixth. The Peacocks earned a split against the University of Minnesota Duluth on Apr. 16, losing 10-1 in five innings before a 14-6 win in six innings marked a 17-run turnaround from game one (-9) to game two (+8).

LUCKY NUMBER 13… Sara Jessie is riding a 13-game hitting streak coming into this week of action. The streak is UIU's longest this season after passing Amelia Fitzgerald's 12-game hitting streak this weekend. Jessie has orchestrated a career year with career-highs across the board. Sara has raised her batting average by nearly 100 points each season, going from .128 in 11 games in 2020 to .280 in 22 games in 2021 and .373 in 35 games in 2022. This season, the O'Fallon, Mo. native has tied the UIU single-season record for runs (44), ranks second on the team in on-base percentage (.473), third in batting average, fourth in hits (41) and RBI (22), and leads Division II in hit-by-pitches (18) and HBP per game (.51).

KATIE CROGAN KEEPS CRUSHING… Katie Crogan continued her career year last week, hitting .500 (10-20) with seven runs, 12 RBI, and four home runs for a 1.100 slugging percentage while working three walks for a .565 on-base percentage. Crogan went 3-5 with two runs, five RBI, and two homers in game one against No. 18 Minnesota State before hitting 3-4 with three runs, five RBI, and two round-trippers in game two against St. Cloud State to break Upper Iowa's single-season HR mark. The Watertown, Wis. native continues to lead the NSIC in batting average (.505), RBI (60), slugging percentage (.982), and on-base percentage (.569) while ranking second in hits (56) and homers (14) and fourth in runs (37). Nationally, Crogan leads Division II in on-base percentage and RBI per game (1.71), is second in batting average, third in RBI and slugging percentage, and tenth in homers (seventh in HR/game).

ARI-GHT, ARI-GHT, ARI-GHT… Ari Charles has been locked in of late, hitting .500 (15-30) over her last nine games. The torrid stretch has pushed her batting average to .313, the fifth-best mark on the team. The No. 9 hitter also ranks fifth in runs (21), hits (31), and RBI (16) while tying for the team lead in triples (2) and leading the Peacocks in stolen bases with a flawless 6-6 mark.

VANQUISHING THE No. 12 VIKINGS… Augustana holds a record of 32-7 (16-2 NSIC) and has been nationally ranked all season after opening the year ranked No. 2 in the NFCA Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Vikings hit .370 with 405 hits, 332 runs (8.51/game), 309 RBI, 54 doubles, seven triples, and 63 home runs, leading the NSIC in nearly every offensive category. Mary Pardo was named the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year, and her 53 runs and 18 homers lead the NSIC. AUGIE pitchers have compiled a 1.99 ERA and 169 strikeouts while allowing a .222 opponent batting average.

BESTING THE BEAVERS… Minot State is 26-10 (7-5 NSIC) and is scheduled to face Minnesota Crookston before playing the Peacocks. The MiSU offense hits .328 with 325 hits, 213 runs (5.92/game), 176 RBI, 52 doubles, nine triples, and 13 home runs. The Beavers also attack on the bases, and their 131 steals on 155 attempts rank second in DII. Jamie Odlum leads MiSU with a .504 average, 58 hits, 12 doubles, five triples, and 34 RBI. Minot State pitchers have compiled a 2.94 ERA and 210 strikeouts while allowing a .251 opponent batting average.

MANAGING THE MARAUDERS… UMary holds a 5-27 (3-9 NSIC) record and is set to face Bemidji State and Winona State before seeing UIU. The UMary offense hits .287 with 250 hits, 121 runs (3.78/game), 107 RBI, 41 doubles, 10 triples, and 10 home runs. Haley Berube leads the way with a .436 average, 19 runs, 34 hits, nine doubles, four triples, four homers, and 22 RBI. Marauder pitchers have compiled a 9.12 ERA and 87 strikeouts while allowing a .354 opponent batting average.