Upper Iowa and Wayne State split a pair of Northern Sun Conference games in Fayette on Senior Day at Robertson Woods Field. The Peacocks won a 3-1 pitchers duel in game one, but the Wildcats answered with 13 runs on 13 hits in game two to come away with a 13-2 win. After the split, UIU moved to 12-30 on the year and 10-21 in NSIC games, while WSC is now 18-26 overall and 12-18 in the conference. UIU recognized 13 seniors (pictured above) prior to game two.
Wayne State scratched the scoreboard first with a run in the first inning thanks to a walk and two singles and looked to add more in the fourth, but a heads-up defensive play on a double to the corner by
Nicolas Vite,
Jerry Garcia and
Samuel Grushkin made a play at third for the final out of the inning to escape the jam.
The Peacocks took the momentum into the bottom of the inning and jumped out to a 3-1 lead thanks to an infield single by
Jake Hilmer, a double to right centerfield by Grushkin and a three-run blast over the fence in left.
The pitchers for both teams controlled the final three innings as Upper Iowa was able to hold on for a 3-1 win behind an inning of relief from
Austin Shingledecker and a two-inning save by
Sam Marhefke that was highlighted by five strikeouts. The save was Marhefke's fourth of the season and second this week.
Cael Luzum earned the win to improve to 1-1 on the year with four innings of work on the hill. Luzum allowed one run on three hits with four strikeouts.
Andrew Staebell suffered the loss falling to 4-2 after throwing all six innings and allowing three runs on five hits and five strikeouts.
In game two, the Wildcats were once again the first to score with three runs in the top of the first thanks to four hits, but Upper Iowa was quick to answer with two runs in the bottom of the inning. UIU put a pair of runners in scoring position on a single by
Ethan Sawyer and a double by Grushkin. The Peacocks picked up one run thanks to a balk and then scored the second on an RBI-single off the bat of
Tanner Stein.
Wayne State was able to get one run back in the second and three more in the third inning thanks to a three-run home run to left by Connor Fiene. In the fifth, WSC struck for four runs fueled by three hits and three hit batters. Two more runs in the seventh inning allowed the Wildcats to secure a double-digit lead, 13-2. After three outs in the bottom of the seventh, the game ended early due to the NSIC run-rule.
Nicholas Pica (0-3) took the loss allowing seven runs on six hits.
Gunnar Foegen threw well in relief going 1.2 innings and allowing no runs on two hits.
Keean Allen (4-3) picked up the win with four innings on the hill; he allowed two runs on three hits with three strikeouts. Cade Hermann scored his first save of the season with three innings of relief scattering three hits.
Sawyer had two of UIU's six hits including a double, while Alex Logelin, Colin Lynam and Nick Barnett each had two hits apiece for the Wildcats.
The two teams will close the regular season on Saturday with a nine-inning game; first pitch is slated for 12 p.m. at Robertson Woods Field.
