Upper Iowa had their hands full as they opened the conference season against nationally ranked Indianapolis. The Peacocks started the double header with a huge upset by a score of 5-4 over the #17-ranked Greyhounds, and UIndy would go on to split the series in game two by a score of 9-8.

Game One
Junior Sara Reid got off to a hot start as she struck out consecutive batters to close out the first inning, before forcing three ground outs in a row at the bottom of the second. She struck out the first batter she faced in the third and fourth innings, but the Greyhounds were able to put one on base with a double out to center field. They would then take a 1-0 lead with an RBI double that was hit down the left field line.

Junior Kylie Doty posted a base hit atop the fifth inning as she recorded a double to center field. Junior Serah Shafer hit a single on a bunt which advanced Doty to third, and Shafer would steal second to put two runners in scoring position. Senior Tristin Doster put the Peacocks on the board, as she hit a sacrifice fly out to left field which brought Doty home and advanced Shafer to third. Sophomore Addyson Alber would give the Peacocks a 2-1 lead with a double to left field, as Shafer made it safely home on the play.

The Greyhounds hit a double out to left center at the bottom of the sixth and they were able to tie the game with a double out to right field. With two outs, they recorded their third double of the inning out to left center once again to jump to a 3-2 lead.

Doty added her second hit of the game to lead off the seventh on a single to third base. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before junior Shannon Nelson's keen eye would result in her getting walked. With the game on the line, Doster recorded her biggest hit of the season as she launched a three RBI homer over the left field wall, giving Upper Iowa a 5-3 lead.

Reid struck out the first batter she faced swinging at the bottom of the seventh, but UIndy responded with a double to right center. They added another double out to left field to make it a one score game, while putting the tying run in scoring position. With two outs, Reid struck out her seventh batter of the game to give the Peacocks the 5-4 victory on the road.

Game Two
Just like Reid, fifth year Delaney Vetter opened game two by striking out back-to-back hitters at the bottom of the first. Alber hit a single out to right field to lead off the second, and the Peacocks would take an early 2-0 lead as junior Taylor Sedam smacked a home run over the left field wall. The Greyhounds would answer by putting two on base at the bottom of the second, but Vetter would retire the side by pitching three consecutive strikeouts in a row.

Doster added another hit as she singled down the middle to lead-off the fourth inning. Alber would be walked at the next at bat, and freshman Dorothy Ziebell hit an RBI double out to left field, bringing Doster home. With one out, fifth year Rae VanMilligan hit a three-RBI home run out to left field which put the Peacocks in a 6-0 lead.

The Greyhounds opened the fourth with a single and they were able to load the bases on a pair of walks. With two outs, Indianapolis hit a two RBI single to left field, and they would cut the lead to 6-3 by scoring on a wild pitch. Shafer got on base with a bunt at the top of the fifth inning, and she advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before reaching third on a passed ball. With two outs, Sedam brought Shafer home with an RBI single to the pitcher, extending UIU's lead to 7-3.

Following a pitching change, Indianapolis loaded the bases with a double to right center and multiple walks. They scored their fourth run on a walk, before a single to left field made it a 7-5 game. The Peacocks forced a ground out to second on the next at bat, but UIndy would still score on the play. They followed that up by tying the game at 7-apiece with a single to shortstop, and UIU would close out the inning by forcing consecutive groundouts.

Freshman Faith Lemonds dominated in the sixth inning, as she recorded a strikeout with her batter going down swinging, prior to striking out back-to-back hitters who went down looking. Doster continued to thrive in the seventh inning, as she hit another go ahead home run to put the Peacocks up by a score of 8-7.

The Peacocks made another pitching change following a walk, and Indianapolis would put a runner in scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. They hit a single down the left side to advance their runner to third, before tying the game on a single to second base. With runners on second and third with one out, the Greyhounds hit an RBI single up the middle, to secure the 9-8 win.

The Peacocks will stay on the road as they go up against Missouri Western State. The double header will take place on Wednesday, Mar. 12 at 12 and 2 p.m.