Upper Iowa was trumped by Maryville in game one 6-1 before regrouping and putting together a strong performance at the plate on the mound in the second contest. They came up just short of a positive result as they allowed the Saints to score the winning run in the bottom of the ninth for the 5-4 victory.
The Peacocks have a quick turnaround as they return to Robertson Woods Field on Tuesday, Mar. 12 to host William Jewell College at 2 p.m. They face NSIC member Augustana on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. Their week concludes with a conference series against Rockhurst in Kansas City, Mo. Mar. 15-17.
GAME ONE, UIU-1, MU-6
The Saints homered over the right field fence in the bottom of the first with one runner on base, bringing around two for the early 2-0 lead. Neither team scored until the fourth inning, when the Peacocks put up their only run of game one as
Brock Zimmer had the second home run of the day as he drilled one over the right field fence.
MU recorded an additional three runs in the bottom of the fourth after tallying three hits and taking advantage of two Peacock errors, bringing their lead to 5-0. They added another in the sixth on a home run early in the inning, bringing their lead to 6-0.
Upper Iowa had two runners in scoring position in the top of the seventh as they reached base on a fielder's choice and a hit by pitch. Both advanced to second and third on a balk, but a UIU strikeout ended the inning and left two stranded, concluding game one.
Zimmer led the team with two hits, while
Gunnar Wicklund added one.
Abraham Sanchez (1-2) threw four innings before being relieved by
Nick Hartje for the final two. Sanchez allowed seven hits and five runs, two of which were earned, while Hartje gave up three hits and one earned run and added one strikeout.
GAME TWO, UIU-4, MU-5
The Peacocks outhit the Saints at the plate in game two as they tallied ten hits to their eight, led by
JJ Vargas and
Bryce Hall who each collected three hits, followed by
Cael Luzum with two. Vargas had a team-high of two RBI's.
UIU was first on the scoreboard as they brought around one run in the second inning after a double from Luzum. The Peacocks registered three hits that inning and left two on base. The Saints responded with one run of their own after a single to left field brought around the runner from second.
A single from Hall in the third inning followed by a hit to left field from Vargas put Upper Iowa in scoring position. An error from the Saint's pitcher allowed Hall to come across the plate for the UIU 2-1 lead.
The Peacocks added another run in the fifth after Vargas hit a long bomb over the fence in right-center. Maryville recorded three runs in the sixth inning to take the 4-3 lead over Upper Iowa.
A second Vargas home run in the eighth knotted everything back up at 4-4. In the bottom of the ninth, the Saints brought around one more run after tallying two hits to edge the Peacocks 5-4.
Brennan Sefrit was on the mound for five innings, allowing four hits and one run while striking out three.
Steve Marhefke picked up the loss as he closed the game for the Peacocks, giving up two hits and one run.
