The Upper Iowa softball team was swept by No. 12 Augustana University in Sioux Falls, S.D. by scores of 3-2 (8 Inn.) and 10-2 (5 Inn.). The Peacocks out-hit the Vikings and pushed the nationally-ranked home team to extra innings in game one, but the Vikings won each game in walk-off fashion after winning by run rule in game two. UIU falls to 16-21 (7-10 NSIC), while AUGIE improves to 34-7 (18-2 NSIC).
 
Katie Crogan, one of the top hitters in the nation, was unfazed against one of the nation's top teams, leading UIU with a 4-5 (.800) clip with a walk, a double, a run, and three of the team's four RBI. Sara Jessie hit 3-7 (.429) with a run in each game, and she added a stolen base in game one. With the runs, Jessie claimed sole possession of the UIU single-season scoring record, setting the new high-water mark at 46 and counting.
 
Calista Brockman hit an RBI double in game one, while Sophia Heckendorf scored a run and drew a walk in game two.
 
Six Vikings combined for six hits in game one, and Gracey Brink's RBI triple in the bottom of the eighth gave AUGIE a walk-off win. In game two, Mary Pardo hit 2-3 with two runs, two RBI, and a home run, while Abby Lien went 2-4 with three RBI, one run, and one round-tripper.
 
Sydney Wilcox (8-12) took the loss in both games for UIU. She threw a complete game in game one, going 7.2 innings while allowing three runs on six hits and a walk with two strikeouts. In game two, Wilcox allowed seven runs (six earned) on six hits and one walk in 1.1 innings. Abby Buckman allowed three runs on six hits, two walks, and a hit-by-pitch while striking out one in 3.1 innings.
 
Ashley Mickschl (14-2) earned the game-one win after allowing two runs on seven hits and a walk in eight innings and striking out six. Amber Elliott (14-2) earned the game-two win after allowing two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out 12 in five innings.
 
The Vikings struck first in game one after a walk and a fielding error opened the second inning. An RBI single made it a 1-0 ballgame before another error loaded the bases, but Wilcox and the UIU defense stranded the AUGIE trio to end the inning.
 
Augustana doubled its lead in the third thanks to a pair of singles, going up 2-0, but the Peacocks answered with a pair of two-out doubles from Crogan and Brockman in the top of the fourth to pull within 2-1. Crogan tied the game with a two-out RBI single in the top of the sixth before the game went to extras.
 
Upper Iowa was in great shape in the top of the eighth, with two runners in scoring position and one out. Crogan was issued an intentional walk to load the bases with two down, and Brockman flied out in the next at-bat as UIU left the bases loaded. AUGIE ended the game thanks to a single and a two-out, RBI triple in the bottom of the eighth, winning 3-2 on a walk-off.
 
In game two, Augustana took a big lead early after a seven-run second inning. The Vikings scored on a throwing error and a steal of home, and they tallied six hits, including a double and a home run. 
 
The Peacocks responded immediately with two runs in the ensuing half-inning, scoring two thanks to an RBI single from Crogan. The Vikings reclaimed their seven-run edge in the bottom of the third thanks to a homer and two doubles in three consecutive two-out at-bats, going up 9-2.
 
The UIU defense turned a double play and stranded a pair of AUGIE runners in the fourth, but Augustana hit a leadoff single and brought the runner around to score in the bottom of the fifth to clinch a 10-2 run in five innings due to run rule.
 
Up next, Upper Iowa returns home to host its 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. Five Peacocks will be honored between Sunday's twin bill as UIU celebrates Senior Day.