THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK SOFTBALL… Upper Iowa sees three different opponents this week in their non-conference schedule. As several changes have been made to the schedule due to weather, the Peacocks have picked up a non-conference matchup at Missouri Western State University on Monday. The first game of the double-header in St. Joseph, Mo. is scheduled for 1 p.m. with the next to follow right after. The Peacocks host their home opener on Wednesday at 1 p.m. against the University of Nebraska at Kearney. They travel back to Missouri to face Truman State on Thursday at 2 p.m. for their last non-conference battle before facing NSIC opponents the following week.
LIVE OPTIONS… There are multiple ways for fans to follow the Peacocks this week. All three contests will have access to live stats, which will be attached with this story. Live video will be available for Monday's contest against Missouri Western and on Thursday at Truman State. Fans can also go directly to the link at UIUPeacocks.com/Live for all live stat and video purposes. The @UIU_Softball Twitter account will also have gameday updates before, during, and after the games as the team will be live-Tweeting the action.
FLORIDA RECAP… The Peacocks went into The Spring Games with a 1-3 record and came out with a 7-7 mark overall. The Peacocks played a total of 10 games down in the Sunshine State, securing a 6-4 record, bringing them to .500 on the season at the conclusion of their time in Florida. They started off the first two days with one win (Ferris State) and three losses (Walsh University, Kentucky Wesleyan and Lewis University). However, UIU rallied over the next couple days as they were victorious in five out of their next six games. Upper Iowa fell to Grand Valley State, but trumped Holy Family, Lynn University, The College of Saint Rose, Southern Connecticut State and American International to wrap up the week.
PELDS AND CHARLES AT THE PLATE… After a total of 14 games,
Ari Charles and
Laila Pelds have separated themselves at the plate, both hitting over .400. Charles leads the team with a .451 batting average. She's seen a total 51 plate appearances and has recorded 23 hits, including one double and one triple. Pelds is hitting .404 with 47 at-bats recording 19 hits, including three doubles. She has batted in nine Peacocks this year, second on the team after
Rae VanMilligan's 15 RBI's on the season.
STOLEN BASE SYNDROME… WANTED: Peacocks accused of larceny. The UIU softball team has accumulated 42 stolen bases on the season, already surpassing last year's total of 32. Who is the leading suspect, you may ask? Junior
Ari Charles is leading the way with a total of 19 stolen bases on 19 attempts.
Serah Shafer is following behind her with eight stolen bases on eight attempts. After 14 games on the season so far, the team has been successful in 42 of their 45 attempts.
QUEEN (S) OF THE HILL… Two Peacocks on the pitching squad showed their strength at the conclusion of The Spring Games with impressive marks in their last two contests. Junior
Delaney Vetter had a monstrous day on the mound in her last appearance as she led the Peacocks to a shut-out victory against Southern Connecticut State. The junior sat down 14 batters and only walked one during her seven innings in the circle. In Upper Iowa's most recent matchup with American International College, Junior
Abby Buckman picked up the win after throwing all seven innings of the contest, allowing only one run on five hits. She struck out ten batters and walked one. Vetter has pitched a total 38 innings, striking out 43 batters and allowing 33 hits. She has a 2-2 record on the season so far with a 3.08 ERA. Buckman has thrown 33.2 innings, sitting down 32 batters and allowing 27 hits. She has a 3-1 record for the year so far and has an ERA of 3.48.
DOWN THE STRETCH… The Peacocks enter their last go-around in the NSIC on Tuesday, Mar. 28 as they host Winona State University for a double-header starting at 2 p.m. They see two more conference foes that week as they travel to Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday, April 1 for a 1 p.m. start and then head to Sioux Falls on Sunday for another pair beginning at 1 p.m.
