Upper Iowa picked up a hard-fought 11-10 win over Missouri S&T on Friday afternoon at Robertson Woods Field, marking their first victory over the Miners since 2018. With the win, the Peacocks improve to 19-24 (13-16 GLVC), while Missouri S&T falls to 23-19 (13-12 GLVC) on the year.
The Peacock offense totaled 15 hits on the day, including seven extra-base hits. Missouri S&T finished with 12 hits and eight walks as a team.
The home team struck first with a run in the opening frame and continued to build their lead, scoring in four of the first six innings, including a three-run blast from Gunnar Wicklund in the sixth to push their lead to 8-2. Wicklund finished the day with three RBIs on two hits.
However, the Miners mounted a comeback with a five-run eighth inning to go ahead 9-8. The Peacocks brought in a run in the bottom of the ninth after a Thane Meiners walk, knotting the game up 9-9. Missouri S&T briefly pulled ahead 10-9 in the top of the tenth, but Upper Iowa answered in the bottom of the frame. A leadoff double by Justin Baehler, his third hit of the day, set the tone. After tying the game on a sacrifice fly by Bryce Hall, Paul Safranski sealed the win with an infield single that plated the winning run.
Hall recorded two hits, drew four walks, scored three runs, and drove in three more. Ethan Sawyer added three hits, two runs, and an RBI in the leadoff spot. Baehler also contributed three RBIs and went three-for-four at the plate.
On the mound, William Kiburis (3-0) earned the win, while relievers Dylan Hesch and Tyler Glowacki helped keep the game within reach during Missouri S&T's late rally.
Freshman Brady Stevens started the game on the bump, allowing just one earned run through 4.2 innings while striking out two. Glowacki and Hesch handled middle relief, with Hesch throwing two scoreless innings to quiet the Miners' bats after their eighth-inning surge. Kiburis allowed just one run in the top of the tenth before slamming the door to allow the Peacocks to rally.
Upper Iowa will return to the field for a doubleheader against Missouri S&T on Saturday for Senior Day. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Robertson Woods Field.
