Upper Iowa softball began their home stretch of games this week as they hosted the University of Concordia, St. Paul in a double header. The Peacocks suffered two losses as they dropped game one 5-1 and game two 8-3. They fell to 15-26 on the season and 7-16 in the NSIC, while the Golden Bears improved to 23-25 overall and 9-14 in the conference.
Game one- UIU 1, CSP 5
The Peacocks were first on the scoreboard when Laila Pelds recorded an RBI after drawing a walk in the second inning. UIU held a 1-0 lead going into the third, but it didn't last very long as CSP brought in a run on a bloop to left field. They earned their second run of the inning with a sac fly to center field, to take control 2-1 going into the fourth.
Concordia, St.Paul added to their lead in the fourth with two more runs fueled by being walked and cracking a single and a double back-to-back. They added another run in the fifth inning behind a sacrifice fly, sealing their 5-1 victory.
Neither team scored in the last two innings of the game. The Peacocks registered five hits in the contest while their opponent tallied six. Rae VanMilligan led the team with two hits.
Delaney Vetter threw all seven innings, allowing four earned runs and striking out four batters. Bryanna Olson was in the circle for CSP, as she allowed only one earned run and struck out three.
Game two UIU 3, CSP 8
The Golden Bears wasted no time in game two, as their lead off hitter knocked a ball out of the park, which was just the start of their scoring habits in the first inning. They brought in seven runs in the first inning alone, only scoring one more throughout the entirety of the game.
UIU attempted to begin chipping away in the bottom of the inning. Ari Charles advanced home on a first and third situation when the runner attempting second base was thrown out. The Golden Bears led 7-1 going into the second inning.
No one scored again until the fourth inning. Reagan Church lined one at the pitcher and brought in VanMilligan for their second run of the game. The Peacocks had potential to score more runs with the bases loaded, but ended up leaving all three runners stranded.
The Peacocks scored their third and final run in the fifth inning after Sam Jessie was brought around on a sacrifice fly from Taylor Sedam.
CSP added their final run to the scoreboard in the seventh inning as they hit another home run on the day, giving them the 8-3 advantage, which they held through the bottom of the seventh. Pelds hit a groundout to move the runners to second and third, but the Peacocks were unable to bring anyone around and trim down the deficit, falling in the 8-3 decision.
Both teams registered seven hits in game two. Laila Pelds led the Peacocks with two hits.
Rylee McGonigle opened the game in the circle, but only lasted 0.1 innings, allowing five runs on one hit. Abby Breuer came in to relieve her and lasted the remainder of the contest. She allowed three runs (two of them earned) on six hits.
Olson threw another seven innings for the Golden Bears. She allowed three runs on seven hits, striking out three batters.
Up nex, the Peacocks round out their 2023 regular-season schedule with two more conference foes this weekend. They welcome Northern State to the Eischeid Softball Complex on Saturday, April 29 for two games at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. They host MSU Moorhead the following day at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
