The Peacock baseball team got on the field against the top team in the state on Tuesday when they took on the Hawkeyes of the University of Iowa in Iowa City in a non-conference game. The Hawkeyes improved to 30-10 on the season with a 16-0 win over Upper Iowa, who moves to 15-24 overall.
The Hawkeyes, who are coached by UIU Hall of Famer Rick Heller, jumped on the Peacocks in the first inning with a 12-run, 9-hit frame as Upper Iowa's pitching staff is in between a pair of five-game weeks within their Northern Sun Conference slate.
UIU's
Ryan Hull drew a walk to start the game, but was double off first base when
Cael Luzum followed with a laser line drive right at the Iowa first baseman. By the time the first two runs of the inning came across, the Peacocks had two outs recorded, but ten-straight Hawkeyes reached base with seven coming on hits and three with walks highlighted by a grand slam off the bat of Sam Petersen to make it 12-0 heading into the second inning.
After two more runs in the bottom of the second inning, the Peacocks slowed down the Hawkeye offense and held them scoreless for three innings before Iowa scored the final two runs of the game in the sixth inning.
Ryan Hull,
Cael Luzum,
Victor Plaz and
Bryce Hall all tallied hits in the game, while both Hull and Hall reached twice in the game thanks to a walk issued to both.
Alex Greene also got on via a walk, while
Samuel Grushkin was hit by a pitch in his only plate appearance.
Jason Jennerjohn took the loss as the starter for UIU.
Landon Stoppelmoor worked through 1.2 innings, while four pitchers worked through their time on the hill without allowing a run.
Brennan Sefrit threw 1.0 innings and got a strikeout, while
Bill McGee (0.2 innings, 1 strikeout) and
Austin Shingledecker (1.0 innings, 2 strikeouts) also threw well.
Thane Meiners got the Peacocks through the an inning without giving up a run after
Braden Albert was touched up for a pair of runs in the sixth.
Upper Iowa will quickly return their focus to the Northern Sun Conference. The Peacocks will face the Cougars of the University of Sioux Falls on Wednesday, Apr. 26 in a double header beginning at 1:30 p.m. in Sioux Falls, S.D.
