THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK SOFTBALL… Upper Iowa will be competing in the Lewis Flyer Dome Invitational from Feb. 22-24. UIU will play six games during the three-day span, with the following schedule:

• Thursday, Feb 22: Minnesota Duluth (6 p.m.) | Purdue University Northwest (8 p.m.)
• Friday, Feb. 23: Parkside (1:30 p.m.) | Hillsdale College (6 p.m.)
• Saturday, Feb. 24: Minnesota State University Moorhead (3:30 p.m.) | Bemidji State (6 p.m.)

EARLY-SEASON RECAP… The Peacocks have competed in two tournaments to start the year, where they have defeated Concordia-St. Paul 8-6 and St. Cloud State 2-1. Senior Ari Charles is hitting a .500 batting average and put together a 4-4 game at the plate vs. St. Cloud State. She has scored six runs on the season and hit a triple in the season opener against Minnesota State. Senior Laila Pelds has recorded a .375 batting average and she has hit at least one RBI in six of UIU's eight games. She leads the Peacocks with 10 RBIs and hit a home run in their victory against CSP. Senior Rae VanMilligan has put up a .320 average and has scored four runs on the year. She has added four RBI's and also hit a homer against Concordia-St. Paul. Sophomore Serah Shafer has scored seven runs on the year, which included a streak of scoring in five games in a row. She has successfully stolen a base a perfect in all seven attempts and recorded two RBIs against Minnesota Duluth. Senior Delaney Vetter was on the mound for both Peacock victories and she has thrown 16 strikeouts on the year. She threw five strikeouts against Minnesota State and recorded a season-high with nine strikeouts against St. Cloud State.

MINNESOTA DULUTH PREVIEW… The Bulldogs have started the season with a perfect 3-0 record and are coming off a shutout victory over Lewis. They return reigning NSIC pitcher of the year, senior Lauren Dixon, who has thrown 23 strikeouts in two games this season.

PURDUE UNIVERSITY NORTHWEST PREVIEW… The Lions have begun the season 5-3, where they went on a three-game win streak to start the year. Senior Madison Roop has posted a 3-1 record at the mound with 20 strikeouts and an average of 1.5 runs allowed per game.
 
PARKSIDE PREVIEW… The Rangers have opened the year 2-3 and are currently on a two-game losing streak. Junior Haley Remington has recorded a .438 batting average and she leads the team with five RBIs and is tied for first with three runs.
 
HILLSDALE COLLEGE PREVIEW… The Chargers have gone 2-1 to begin their 2024 campaign. Junior Joni Russell led the Chargers to a season-opener victory over Tusculum where she struck out 15 batters in six innings.
 
MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MOORHEAD PREVIEW… The Dragons began the season with a perfect 4-0 record, but have since fallen to 5-3. Sophomore Mack Gallagher has posted a .429 batting average and she leads the Dragons with four doubles and six RBIs.
 
BEMIDJI STATE PREVIEW… The Beavers have recorded an 0-4 record to start the season. Junior Alexa Christensen and senior Molly Houts have each recorded a .308 average with four RBIs on the year.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS… The Peacocks will travel to Florida where they will take part in the Spring Games. UIU will have a very busy week as they will be playing in 12 games over an eight-day span.

• Friday, Mar. 1: Charleston (9:15 a.m.) | Montana State University Billings (1:45 p.m.)
• Saturday, Mar. 2: Goldey-Beacom College: (9:15 a.m.) | Dominican University of New York (11:15 a.m.)
• Monday, Mar. 4: Glenville State (9 a.m.) | West Virginia Wesleyan College (11:15 a.m.)
• Monday, Mar. 5: Thomas More (9 a.m.) | Southern New Hampshire (11:15 a.m.)
• Thursday, Mar. 7: College of Saint Rose (10:15 a.m.) | Mercyhurst (3 p.m.)
• Friday, Mar. 8: Saint Anselm College (10 a.m.) | Trevecca Nazarene (12:15 p.m.)