Four Peacock pitchers stifled the offense of Concordia University, St. Paul on Tuesday in the Twin Cities and the Upper Iowa bats, led by Cael Luzum's six hits provided enough support to claim a double header sweep by scores of 7-4 and 3-1. The wins improve Upper Iowa's record to 11-29 overall and 9-20 in the Northern Sun, while the Golden Bears fall to 17-25 overall and 11-19 in the conference. Game two's victory marked the first time this season that UIU has won a game decided by two runs; the Peacocks were 0-7 in two-run games prior.

In game one, Upper Iowa struck for three runs in the top of the first inning thanks to five hits in the frame highlighted by an RBI-singles by Samuel Grushkin and Tanner Stein. Concordia-St. Paul answered with three runs on a two-run double and an RBI-single that both came with two outs in the first.
 
A home run by Bryce Nelson pushed the home team out in front 4-3 in the second inning, but the Peacocks were able to tie the game in the third inning. After a pair of batters were hit by pitches, Jerry Garcia singled to centerfield just out of the reach of the CSP shortstop to plate Stein and knot the score at 4-4.
 
A single through the right side by Ryan Hull and aggressive base running by Jake Hilmer forced a bad throw from the outfield and allowed Hilmer to score and give UIU a 5-4 lead in the fourth inning. In the seventh inning, the Peacocks grabbed a pair of unearned, insurance runs thanks to a throwing error on the infield and a sacrifice fly by Ethan Sawyer.

Sam Marhefke closed out his third inning of relief in the seventh without allowing any runs for his third save of the season. A fielding error and a single gave the home team hope and brought the tying run to the plate with no outs. Marhefke recorded back-to-back strikeouts, but issued a walk with two outs to load the bases. The Neenah, Wis. product notched his sixth strikeout to end the rally and hand UIU the win. 

Colin Lacey (4-3) won his fourth game of the year with four tough innings on the hill. The lefty allowed four runs on seven hits while striking out two batters. 

Korey Dahlberg (4-4) suffered the loss after surrendering five runs, four earned, on eight hits.

At the plate, Luzum had three hits including a double, while Hull added a pair of hits. Seven different players scored a run for the visitors.

In the second game, the story was starting pitcher Keaton Parker (2-7) for the Peacocks. Parker was electric for the boys in blue with seven innings of no-hit baseball and 12 strikeouts. The third year pitcher from Palo, Iowa did walk five batters and hit a pair, but he kept the Golden Bears out of rhythm and the defense played stout behind him.

Austin Shingledecker came on to pitch the eighth and ninth innings for his first save of the season. The freshman allowed an unearned run on a pair of hits and an error after recording the first two outs of the eighth, but bounced back to strike out the side in the ninth to secure a 3-1 win for UIU. 

Upper Iowa scored their three runs in the fourth inning off CSP starter Mason Nadolney (0-3). Hull opened the frame with a triple to right and Grushkin reached after being hit by a pitch and stole second to put a pair of Peacocks in scoring position. Luzum came through with a two-run double to the gap in right centerfield and advanced to third when Stein singled through the right side to set up runners on the corners with no outs. A ground out off the bat of Garcia allowed a third run to score. Both Nicolas Vite and Sage Stellmacher singled to load the bases, but a pop up on the infield and a strikeout left three on the bases as the game moved to the fifth.

Luzum and Stellmacher each registered three hits apiece, while four other Peacocks notched a hit in the game. 

Upper Iowa will close their 2022 campaign this weekend at home. The Peacocks welcome the Wildcats of Wayne State College to Robertson Woods Field on Friday and Saturday, May 6-7. UIU will recognize their seniors prior to game two on Friday afternoon in Fayette.