Upper Iowa had another close game at home, but fell to 3-6 in games decided by two runs or less after losing 7-5 to Minot State University on Saturday afternoon. The Beavers outscored their hosts 4-2 in the final three innings to come away with the two run win improving to 18-10 overall and 9-7 in the conference, while the Peacocks fell to 11-17 overall and 7-10 in the Northern Sun.
 
Craig Schmirch (3-2) picked up the win in relief with two scoreless innings of work, while Austin Loeb picked up his fourth save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning despite the Peacocks putting a pair of runners on base and sending the winning run to the plate. Bryant Bagshaw took a no-decision for MiSU with five innings on the mound allowing three runs on five hits and four walks with four strikeouts.
 
Kyle Hrncir (2-3) suffered the loss throwing six innings on the hill; he allowed five runs, four earned, on eight hits and five walks with five punch outs. Austin Shingledecker threw three innings in relief allowing two runs on three hits with one strikeout.
 
The Peacocks loaded the bases with no outs in the first inning after an infield single and two walks, but three straight strikeouts ended the inning as UIU was only able to scratch one run on the scoreboard on a wild pitch during the run of punch outs.
 
In the third inning, the Beavers rallied with two runs to take the lead highlighted by a pair of doubles off the bats of Brent Riddle and Mark Ossanna.
 
After a walk with one out, back-to-back singles by Ethan Sawyer and Victor Plaz allowed the Peacocks to knot the score at 2-2. The inning ended without more damage after a pickoff and a foul fly ball.
 
Each team scored a run in the fourth inning as well to remain tied at 3-all. Shane Kary tripled and came home on a grounder by Martin Rodriguez and the Peacocks answered when Ryan Hull singled on the infield and brought Bryce Hall to the plate.
 
Thanks to a walk and two throwing errors on an attempted sac bunt, the Peacocks had runners on second and third with no outs in the fifth inning but failed to score when the next three connections didn't leave the infield. In the sixth inning, the Peacocks were aided once again by a pair of errors that put runners on first and second with no outs. Unfortunately, a pair of strikeouts around a shallow fly to center didn't allow the runners to move.
 
After the Peacocks couldn't take advantage of the miscues in the fifth and sixth innings, the Beavers opened the seventh with a walk and two singles to take a 4-3 lead and put runners on the corners with no outs chasing Hrncir from the game. Another single drove in one more run before UIU shutdown the threat with a fly ball and a double play on the infield.
 
UIU put runners on the corners with two outs in the seventh, but couldn't come up with a hit to drive the runners in. The Beavers added two more runs in the eighth inning thanks to a pair of hits with two outs pushing out to a 7-3 lead.
 
In the bottom of the frame, Hall reached with a walk and moved to second on a single by Hull with one out. After Samuel Grushkin walked, the bases were loaded. After a strikeout, Sawyer stepped in and hit a two-run single to left field to bring UIU within two, 7-5. The inning stayed open after third-strike was thrown wild to load the bases again. UIU nearly pulled the trick off again in the next at bat as the batter was ruled to have committed to the swing on a wild pitch by the home plate umpire but the Beavers were able to throw to first just in time to record the final out of the inning.
 
In the ninth, Austin Loeb picked up the save, but both Hall and Hull walked to put runners on the corners with two outs. A final strikeout ended the rally with the winning run in the batter's box for UIU.
 
For the game, the Peacocks tallied eight walks and nine hits highlighted by three singles from Sawyer and two from Hull, but 12 strikeouts and 14 runners left on base proved to be too much to overcome for the UIU offense.
 
Upper Iowa will head out on the road for the first time since Mar. 15 next Wednesday, Apr. 12. The team has played at Robertson Woods Field for the last 17-straight games, but were the visitors in seven of those games. The Peacocks will take on the Mavericks of Minnesota State University, Mankato at 1:30 for a double header. UIU returns for a weekend series at home against Wayne State College on Saturday and Sunday, Apr. 15-16.