Upper Iowa opened their 2023 NSIC campaign at Harms-Eischeid Softball Complex and fell to Winona State 17-7 (6 Inn.) in the first game and 6-2 in the second game. The Peacocks dropped to 8-12 on the season and 0-2 in the NSIC, while the Warriors improved to 19-8 overall and 2-0 in the conference.

Laila Pelds and Taylor Sedam each knocked a ball out of the park amidst the losses. Pelds collected her second home-run of the season, and second one of the week, while Sedam's marked her first as a Peacock.

Up next, the Peacocks continue their conference schedule as they take on two more NSIC foes this week. They are scheduled to go head-to-head versus Southwest Minnesota State on April 1 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. UIU rounds out their week of play at Sioux Falls on April 2 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Upper Iowa-7, Winona State-17

The Warriors put together 17 runs in the first game versus the Peacocks, seven of them being collected within the first two innings. WSU crossed the plate four times in the first inning and another three in the second. The Peacocks scored one run in the first inning after Pelds threatened to steal second, giving Ari Charles the opportunity to steal home, avoiding the tag at the plate to put UIU on the board. 

The Peacocks scored another three runs in the third inning, fueled by Kylie Doty cracking a single over the head of the left fielder, bringing one runner home and advancing another to third. Taylor Sedam smacked another ball to left field, scoring two on an error, bringing the score to 7-4, in favor of the Warriors.

Winona State strung together another three runs in the fourth inning, but the Peacocks retaliated with three runs of their own. Pelds hit a three-run home-run, keeping within striking range. However, that was the last of the scoring for Upper Iowa while Winona State gathered another three runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth. 

WSU collected 19 hits in the game while UIU accumulated 13. Pelds led the team at the plate, going 3-4, while Serah Shafer and Rae VanMilligan each added two hits.

Abby Buckman started off in the circle for the Peacocks. She went two innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits. She struck out one batter and walked none. Rylee McGonigle threw four innings of relief out of the bullpen. 

Upper Iowa-2, Winona State-6

The Peacocks made their way onto the scoreboard in the first inning of game two during a first and third base situation. Serah Shafer stole second base and as WSU threw down, Ari Charles stole home, giving UIU their first run of the game. 

The Warriors gathered two hits and two runs in the second inning, taking the 2-1 lead. They added another run in the fourth inning to command the 3-1 advantage. Upper Iowa struck back in the fourth inning as Taylor Sedam knocked in her first homerun of her Peacock career, bringing the Peacocks within one (3-2).

Winona State pulled ahead in the sixth inning as they tallied three more runs, bringing them ahead 6-2 which held for the entirety of the contest. 

Sedam led the Peacocks with two hits on the day as the team tallied six, while Winona State gathered eight hits on the afternoon.

Delaney Vetter pitched seven innings in the circle for Upper Iowa. She allowed eight hits and six runs, striking out seven batters. 

Abby Smith was on the mound for the Warriors as she went seven innings, allowing eight hits and six runs and sitting down eight batters.