THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK SOFTBALL… Upper Iowa will return to Fayette for their final games of the season. The Peacocks will host Illinois Springfield on Senior Day, Saturday, Apr. 26 with their double header leading off at 12 and 2 p.m. They will then take on McKendree, Sunday, Apr. 27 with games starting at 12 and 2 p.m. once again.
LIVE COVERAGE OPTIONS… There are numerous ways to stay connected to Peacock Softball this week. The Webcast can be seen at
https://glvcsn.com/uiu/ while Live Stats can be viewed at
https://uiupeacocks.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary for each game. Both links will be included with this story.
SENIOR STARS… The Peacocks will honor their three seniors in
Aubree Terris,
Delaney Vetter and
Tristin Doster following their first game against Illinois Springfield. Terris has hit 2-5 on the season for Upper Iowa, highlighted by a 2-3 performance with a two-run homer against Newman. Vetter has appeared in 85 innings on the mound, where she has struck out 79 batters while allowing only one home run in 358 at bats. She has pitched three complete games, and has recorded a .279 batting average against. Doster ranks second on the team with a .352 batting average, where she has posted 23 runs on 45 hits. She has hit a team-high three triples on the year, while ranking second with nine doubles. Doster has also recorded eight home runs which ranks fourth in the GLVC, while hitting the sixth most RBIs in the conference at 42.
HIGH-SCORING SHAFER… Serah Shafer hit 7-12 at the plate over Upper Iowa's previous two double headers, where she scored four runs. She has continued to lead the Peacocks with a .400 batting average, scoring 36 runs on 64 hits. She has started all 43 games on the season, and has added two home runs and 13 RBIs. Shafer has gone 26-30 in stolen base attempts, which ranks third overall in the GLVC.
ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD'S IMPACT … The Prairie Stars have posted a 27-16 overall record, while going 15-9 in the GLVC. UIS is currently on a three-game win streak where they won consecutive games by mercy rule against William Jewell. Senior Ella Brinkley has recorded the sixth best batting average in the conference at .411. She has scored 27 runs on 46 hits, and Brinkley's five triples are tied for the most in the GLVC. Senior Taylor Zawacki has posted a .361 average at the plate with a team-high 34 runs on 43 hits. She leads the Prairie Stars with 12 doubles, while adding three triples on the year. Junior pitcher Rosie Bartletti has recorded the sixth-best ERA in the GLVC at 2.41, while allowing a .345 batting average against. She has accumulated the second most wins by a pitcher with a 17-7 record, while recording five shutouts which also ranks second in the GLVC. Bartletti has struck out 190 batters across 139 innings, while pitching ten complete games.
MATCH-UP WITH MCKENDREE… The Bearcats have recorded an overall mark of 29-18 while posting an identical conference record to the Prairie Stars at 15-9. Junior Lauren Harris ranks second in the conference with a .444 batting average with 67 hits and 38 runs. She has recorded a GLVC-leading 20 doubles while hitting four home runs and 42 RBIs. Junior Sami Huck has added a .358 average at the plate with 53 hits and 37 runs. Huck has also recorded a team-best 2.30 ERA and she leads the conference with 206 strikeouts across 152 innings. Freshman Morgan Spodarek leads the Bearcats with nine home runs on the year, while recording 43 RBIs and three triples. Junior Ellie Vetter has recorded a 14-4 mark on the mound, while pitching 11 complete games. She has allowed a 2.99 ERA and a .225 batting average against.
