THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK SOFTBALL… Upper Iowa commences their 2025 campaign with the Branson Lead-Off Classic. The Peacocks will be playing five games over a three-day span, which begins on Friday, Jan. 31 against Southwestern Oklahoma State at 10 a.m. and Arkansas at Monticello at noon. The Peacocks will follow that up with another double header, Saturday, Feb. 1 as they take on Emporia State at noon and Minnesota Crookston at 4 p.m. UIU will then close out the tournament on Sunday, Feb. 2 as they face Oklahoma Baptist at 11 a.m.

2024 RECAP… The Peacocks are coming off a 17-35 record while going 7-19 in conference action. They went on a four-game winning streak early into the season at the Spring Games, where they outscored their opponents 27-5, scoring at least six runs in all four games. The Peacocks recorded their first GLVC win over Illinois Springfield, and they proceeded to sweep both William Jewell and Quincy at the Eischeid Softball Complex.
 
PEACOCKS ASSEMBLE… Upper Iowa brings back ten players from last season, which includes nine hitters. Junior Serah Shafer leads all returners with 51 hits and 25 runs. She posted a .295 batting average on the year and added two doubles, 14 RBIs and a team-high 18 stolen bases. Senior Reagan Church ranks first amongst returners with a .299 average at the plate, while also recording the most home runs with four. She posted 20 hits with seven runs on the season, while adding two doubles and 12 RBIs. Fifth year Rae VanMilligan hit for .239 with 39 hits and 21 runs. She hit nine doubles and two triples on the year, while adding two home runs and 22 RBIs. Junior Kylie Doty recorded a .245 batting average with 27 hits and 18 runs. She hit five doubles with one triple, and recorded two home runs with 11 RBIs. Junior Taylor Sedam put up a .234 average at the plate with 36 hits and 15 runs. She hit six doubles on the season, 15 RBIs and one home run against Maryville in the season finale.
 
PITCHING TRIO… Fifth year Delaney Vetter returns for her third year with UIU, and she is coming off an 8-16 record where she pitched 15 complete games. She recorded a 4.68 ERA and allowed a team-best .267 batting average against. Vetter struck out 147 batters in 142 innings pitched, which included four games of ten or more strikeouts, highlighted by a 14-strikeout performance against Glenville State. Vetter will be joined on the mound by two junior transfers in Sara Reid and Emma Tautges. Reid spent her first two years at Indian Hills CC, where she posted a 22-7 record on the mound with 120 strikeouts during her sophomore season. She recorded a 2.80 ERA and was named to the All-Region First Team. Tautges appeared in 31 games on the mound for Central Lakes College, recording a 14-11 mark with two saves. She recorded 118 strikeouts while pitching 21 complete games and she also thrived at the plate. Tautges posted a .455 batting average with 102 hits, 64 runs, 17 doubles, 16 RBIs and seven home runs. She was named to the All-Region First Team in both seasons while garnering North All-Division Player of the Year during her freshman year.

TERRIFIC TRANSFER… Senior Tristin Doster joins the Peacocks, after spending two seasons with the Iowa Hawkeyes and her junior year with Campbell. Doster appeared in 80 games as a Hawkeye, where she hit for .291 with 59 hits and 19 runs. She added 11 doubles, 42 RBIs and seven home runs, which included a go-ahead grand slam against South Florida. While at Campbell, Doster recorded a .311 batting average with 33 hits and 16 runs. She recoded ten doubles, 30 RBIs and two homers as she garnered All-CAA First Team honors.
 
SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE PREVIEW… The Bulldogs recorded a 16-33 mark last season, while going 11-22 in conference play. Senior Jadyn Hook led the team with a .373 batting average with 59 hits and 27 runs. She added seven doubles, 16 RBIs and one home run. Senior Blaire Gentry posted a 10-13 record on the mound with a 3.81 ERA and 55 strikeouts.

ARKANSAS AT MONTICELLO PREVIEW… The Boll Weevils went 23-29 on the year with a 15-18 record in conference action. Senior Sophie Wood hit a .318 average with 41 hits and 15 runs. She ranked second on the team with 12 doubles, and she recorded 29 RBIs with four home runs. On the mound, senior Kyann Woods posted a 3-2 record with a 6.23 ERA and 47 strikeouts.
 
EMPORIA STATE PREVIEW… The Hornets posted a 31-20 record while going 14-12 in their conference. They lost their top seven hitters whom all graduated, and they return fifth year Haley Garnett. She recorded a .238 batting average with 24 hits that led to 24 runs. Garnett added 19 RBIs and hit four home runs on the year. Senior Gracie Rabe is coming off a 9-10 season on the mound, where she recorded a 2.88 ERA with 63 strikeouts.
 
MINNESOTA CROOKSTON PREVIEW… The Golden Eagles are coming off a 14-39 record, while going 7-21 in conference play. Senior Whitnee Curry hit for a team-high .340 average and 48 hits, while adding 13 runs, three doubles and 17 RBIs. Junior Alexa Guilford posted a 4-5 record on the mound, with a 3.25 ERA and 41 strikeouts.

OKLAHOMA BAPTIST PREVIEW… The Bison are coming off a dominant 41-14 season, where they went 30-3 in conference games while qualifying to the NCAA Division II Central Regional Tournament. Junior Ally Ryan posted a .309 batting average, where she hit a team-high 18 home runs with 50 RBIs. She concluded the year with 47 hits, 33 runs and five doubles. Junior Jaycee Shaffer is the lone pitcher to return, and she posted a 2-1 record with a 4.44 ERA and 21 strikeouts.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS… The Peacocks will compete in the Alvy Early Memorial Classic next weekend in Bentonville, Ark. UIU opens the tournament Friday, Feb. 7 against Washburn at 11 a.m. and Missouri Southern at 1:30 p.m. They face Northwest Missouri State Saturday, Feb. 8 at 11 a.m. and Newman at 1:30 p.m. and close out the classic on Sunday, Feb. 9 against Harding at 11 a.m. and East Central at 1:30 p.m.