The Peacocks began the season at the Branson-Lead Off Classic two hard-fought defeats by scores of 3-2 versus Southwestern Oklahoma State and 2-1 against Arkansas at Monticello.

Game One vs. Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs
Junior Sara Reid started her UIU career by striking out two batters swinging in the first inning, before adding another strikeout atop the second. Senior Reagan Church started her season on the highest note possible, as she hit a home run over the center field wall to put the Peacocks in a 1-0 lead at the bottom of the second inning. Sophomore Addyson Alber recoded a double later in the inning, but the Bulldogs forced a groundout to advance to the third.
 
The Bulldogs began the third on a single to left field, and they advanced a runner into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Chesnie Hewitt was able to tie the game on an RBI double out to center field, as Shallen Mershon scored on the play.
 
Reid struck out another batter in the fourth inning, and recorded three quick outs to close out the sixth. Junior Serah Shafer reached first on a bunt down the middle, and she advanced to third base on a sacrifice grounder by fifth year Rae VanMilligan. Senior transfer Tristin Doster hit a go-ahead RBI out to left field, as her pop out advanced Shafer home.
 
SWOSU opened the seventh with a walk, before adding a single on a line drive out to right field. They were able to advance both runners to second and third base on a fly out near the right field wall. With two outs, Hewitt hit a single out to center field, recording two RBIs to give them a 3-2 lead. Junior Taylor Sedam hit a double to start the bottom of the seventh, and she advanced to third on a single by junior Kylie Doty. Unfortunately for UIU, the Bulldogs closed out the game with a pair of ground outs to complete the 3-2 win.

Game Two vs. Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils
Senior Delaney Vetter struck out the first two batters she faced, before closing out the top of the first by forcing a ground out with a runner on third. Shafer recorded a single to center field and she advanced to second base on an error. Coming off a team-high 18 steals in 2024, Shafer proceeded to steal third and she gave the Peacocks a 1-0 lead as she scored on a passed ball.
 
Vetter added another two strike outs in the second, and Alber recorded a line drive double out to center field at the bottom of the inning. Vetter put together consecutive three-up, three-down innings in the third and fourth, and Alber improved to 2-2 on the day with a single to center field.
 
Sophomore Elliott Pomeroy opened the fifth with a single out to center field, and she would later advance to third on a fielder's choice. With two outs, the Peacocks hit a deep fly out to center field, which was caught to close out the inning. The Boll Weevils recorded a single in the sixth, and put two on base following a walk. Makenzie Martin hit a 2 RBI line drive out to center field, as Sophie Wood and Kammie Walker scored to put Arkansas-Monticello in a 2-1 lead.
 
Shafer began the bottom of the seventh with a single on a bunt, and she stole her second base of the game to advance to second. The Boll Weevil defense forced a pop out, and then closed out the game with a strike out to sneak by with the 2-1 win.
 
UIU will continue the tournament tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 31 as they face Emporia State at noon and Minnesota-Crookston at 4 p.m.