Upper Iowa softball suffered a tightly contested sweep against Winona State University, falling 2-0 and 6-5 in Winona, Minn. The Peacocks fall to 21-24 (12-13 NSIC) while the Warriors improve to 33-13 (19-5 NSIC).
In game one, the Peacocks were shut out for the first time since their season opener back on Feb. 13 and held to two hits, both of which came off the bat of leadoff hitter
Kaylee Frenette (2-3).
The Warriors were held to just five hits but did not strike out once, while Liz Pautz (W, 21-5) struck out 13 Peacocks while walking one and hitting one.
Sydney Wilcox (L, 10-14) allowed two runs on five hits and two walks.
Rylee Stout hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first to put WSU up 1-0, and an RBI double from Ann Smolenski in the fifth made it a 2-0 ballgame.
The Warriors jumped out to a 2-0 lead in game two before making their first out thanks to a single, an RBI triple, and a wild pitch. However,
Rylee McGonigle righted the ship with a pair of strikeouts before the Peacocks took the lead thanks to three runs in the ensuing half-inning.
An error and two walks loaded the bases, and three RBI singles in three at-bats from Charles, Frenette, and Jessie put UIU up 3-2 before an inning-ending double play.
WSU reclaimed the advantage thanks to three two-out runs in the bottom of the third that came by way of a two-RBI double and scoring on a wild pitch, putting the home team up 5-3.
UIU tied the score at 5-5 in the fifth after a Fitzgerald walk and Crogan double opened the inning.
Calista Brockman picked up an RBI and reached on an error before
Hannah Bridgewater earned an RBI on a fielder's choice in the next at-bat before the inning ended.
Winona State took the lead once again in the bottom of the sixth after leading off with a double and scoring thanks to a fielding error. Pautz closed out the Peacocks in the top of the seventh after coming back for two innings of relief, earning her second win of the day and clinching the sweep with a 6-5 win.
Frenette notched two more hits in game two, tying Crogan for the team-high (2-4). Carly Jeanes, Crogan, Brockman, Wilcox, and
Samantha Jessie each scored a run. Frenette,
Sara Jessie, Brockman, and Bridgewater each notched an RBI.
McGonigle (L, 5-4) took the loss after allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits, two wild pitches, and a walk. She also tied a season-high with five strikeouts.
Sam Keller led WSU with two hits and two runs in game two, while pinch-hitter Ann Smolenski tallied two of the team's three RBI and hit 1-2 with a run.
Abby Smith had a no-decision after allowing five runs on seven hits, three walks, and a wild pitch in 5.0 innings. She also struck out three to match Pautz's game-two total.
Up next, the Peacocks are set to wrap their regular season with two more road doubleheaders against Minnesota State University Moorhead and Northern State University. The games are slated to be played on Saturday and Sunday, Apr. 29-May 1, but teams are in talks about pushing each series back a day to May 1-2 to avoid inclement weather. Check out UIUPeacocks.com and the UIU Peacocks social media pages for the latest schedule updates.
