The Upper Iowa softball team pulled off a sweep in their penultimate home twin bill, winning 4-2 and 10-2 (5 Inn.) against Minot State University. After getting out-hit in the game-one win, the Peacocks dominated with 10 runs on 12 hits in game two, and sterling pitching performances combined to give the Peacocks two wins. UIU improves to 18-21 (9-10 NSIC) while MISU falls to 27-13 (8-8 NSIC).

Upper Iowa needed just four hits to tally four runs and four RBI in game one, while Minot State got two runs and RBI on seven hits. Sara Jessie, Amelia Fitzgerald, Katie Crogan, and Sydney Wilcox each picked up an RBI for UIU, while Ari Charles led the game with two runs. Sar. Jessie hit 1-3 with a run and an RBI, while Crogan went 1-2 with a run, an RBI, a double, and a walk.
 
Wilcox (9-12) was dominant in the circle and impressive out of it. She allowed just two runs on seven hits and two walks over the complete game win while matching a season-high with six strikeouts. Wilcox also hit 1-3 with an RBI to give herself some run support.
 
Lenora Watson led the Beaver offense with a game-high three hits in three at-bats. She also tallied a game-high two RBI and scored once thanks to a solo home run.
 
Trinity Valentine (11-6) took the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) in five innings on three hits, three walks, and a hit-by-pitch. She also struck out three Peacocks. Jasmine Blizzard pitched the sixth inning, allowing one hit and notching one strikeout.
 
In game two, Calista Brockman was the star of the show thanks to three two-RBI hits in three at-bats. Brockman finished with six RBI with two doubles and a single, setting a UIU season-high in RBI. Fitzgerald went 4-4 with two runs and the game-winning RBI. Kaylee Frenette scored twice and notched an RBI in the leadoff spot. Sar. Jessie extended her hitting streak to 16 games while adding a run and an RBI. Crogan finished with a 0-0 mark at the plate but scored a run and notched an RBI thanks to two walks and a sacrifice fly. Carly Jeanes, Wilcox (two hits), and Charles each came around to score as eight Peacocks combined for 10 runs on the team's 12 hits.
 
Rylee McGonigle (4-3) earned the win after allowing just two runs on seven hits in five innings. She struck out two and plunked a batter, but she finished with no walks for the third time this season.
 
Brooklyn Morrison and Jaycie Rostad each notched an RBI for MISU, while Jamie Odlum and Abby Lohse came around to score. 
 
Reegan Floyd (8-5) took the loss after allowing eight runs on nine hits and three walks in 3.2 innings while striking out two. Zoya Robbins allowed two unearned runs and three hits in 0.2 innings of relief.
 
Game 1: Upper Iowa 4, Minot State 2
MISU struck first with a solo HR in the top of the second, but the Peacocks responded with a run in the bottom of the inning. Katie Crogan led off with a walk before scoring on a two-out, game-tying RBI single by Sydney Wilcox.
 
Minot State put two on with no outs in the top of the third, but Wilcox and the Peacock defense worked out of the jam, highlighted by Aubree Terris firing down to Sara Jessie to catch a runner trying to steal third. UIU went ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the inning after putting the first two runners on base, and an RBI fielder's choice from Amelia Fitzgerald gave the Peacocks the edge before an inning-ending double-play.
 
The Beavers tied the game with a double and an RBI single to lead off the fourth frame, but Upper Iowa turned a strike-'em-out, throw-'em-out double play to keep the game tied.
 
Ari Charles got plunked to lead off the bottom of the fifth, and she came around to score thanks to a one-out, RBI single from Sar. Jessie to put UIU ahead 3-2. Crogan doubled the UIU advantage with an RBI double in the next at-bat, making it a 4-2 ballgame before the end of the inning. 
 
Game 2: Upper Iowa 10, Minot State 2 (5 Inn.)
Minot State took the game's first lead again in game two, this time going ahead 1-0 in the top of the first thanks to a single and a double. Upper Iowa came up with a quick response for the second game in a row, taking a 2-1 lead thanks to three hits and a walk in the bottom of the first. Calista Brockman got the scoring started with a two-RBI single with the bases loaded.
 
The Beavers threatened to score in the top of the third with two runners in scoring position and one out, but the Peacock defense capped off a 6-3-2 double-play by throwing a runner out at home to get out of the jam and end the inning. 
 
After a single from Fitzgerald and a walk from Crogan, Brockman doubled the UIU run total to four with her second two-RBI hit of the day. The double scored Crogan and pinch-runner Sophia Heckendorf and put the Peacocks ahead 4-1 before the end of the inning.
 
Minot State put two runners in scoring position with one out in the top of the fourth before cutting into the lead with an RBI groundout and pulling within 4-2 before the end of the inning.
 
The Peacocks doubled their score with a four-spot in the bottom of the fourth inning to take an 8- 2 lead. Sydney Wilcox led off with a single before moving to third with one out, and an RBI single from Sar. Jessie after a walk from Kaylee Frenette made it a 5-2 ballgame. Fitzgerald singled up the middle to load the bases, and Crogan picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly to put UIU ahead 6-2. Like clockwork, Brockman bashed her third two-RBI hit in as many at-bats, putting the Peacocks up 8-2 with her fifth and sixth RBI of the game.
 
Minot State slapped a pair of singles to lead off the top of the fifth inning, but Ari Charles caught line-outs in consecutive at-bats before Rylee McGonigle capped off the inning with a strikeout. The first three Peacocks reached to lead off the bottom of the fifth thanks to a fielding error and singles from Wilcox and Charles. Frenette reached on an error and picked up an RBI in the ensuing at-bat, putting Upper Iowa up 9-2 with no outs and the bases loaded. A fielder's choice led to a force-out at home in the next at-bat, but Fitzgerald ended the game in walk-off fashion with an RBI single in the ensuing at-bat, clinching a 10-2 UIU win by run rule and the doubleheader sweep.
 
Up next, the Peacocks are set to host their final twin bill in Fayette with a matchup against the University of Mary. The games are set for 12/2 p.m. on Sunday, Apr. 24, at the Eischeid Softball Complex. Upper Iowa will be celebrating its Senior Day between the games.