BRANSON, Mo. - Peacocks softball (0-2) began the season by competing in the Branson Lead-Off Classic, where they fell to Arkansas Monticello (2-0), 9-1, and Newman (Kan.) in extra innings, 8-7. 

Elliott Pomeroy led the team, going 4-of-6 from the plate, while adding an RBI and two runs scored. Addyson Alber and Kaitlin Foral both had two hits, with Foral and Reagon Proud knocking in two RBIs. 

Mara Silvey had the best overall performance in the loss to Newman. During her lone appearance at bat, Silvey connected for a double to give the Peacocks two runs. The freshman also pitched 3.2 innings, striking out three batters. 

UIU plays two more games on Monday in the Branson Leadoff Classic. Upper Iowa faces Arkansas Tech at 11:30 a.m. and Northwestern Oklahoma State at 1:30 p.m.

Arkansas Monticello 9, Upper Iowa 1

Upper Iowa recorded the first run of the game in the top of the first inning. Pomeroy had the first hit of the game, which was a single to left field, and later stole second base. Kaitlin Foral singled toward center field to bring Pomeroy home. 

Arkansas Monticello answered by ripping off three runs at the bottom of the inning. The runs were scored off two errors, a single and a double. The Boll Weevils held the Peacocks scoreless in the top of the second, before adding three more runs to take a 6-1 advantage. 

UAM added another run in the third inning off a double. Both teams would go scoreless in the fourth. UIU went scoreless in the top of the fifth before Arkansas Monticello iced the game with two straight runs at the bottom of the inning, earning the run-rule victory. 

Pomeroy had the most hits on the team with two. Foral posted the team's only RBI. Sara Reid pitched 4.2 innings, allowing nine hits and nine runs, but only one earned run. The Central City native also recorded two strikeouts.

Jolie Bazan led the Boll Weevils in runs with three, while Makenzie Martin led the team in RBIs with two. Martin and Cada Collins had two hits. Kyleigh Benton pitched five innings, allowing four hits and one run. She also struck out six batters.

Monticello had one error, while the Peacocks had seven. Upper Iowa left seven batters on base, while Monticello left five. UIU was also walked five times compared to UAM's two. 

Newman 8, Upper Iowa 7

Newman scored the first run of the game in the first inning off a sacrifice fly by AJ Borja. The Jets added two unearned runs in the second to take an early 3-0 lead.  

NU's Malie Noda hit a leadoff home run to left field in the third inning, increasing the team's lead to 4-0. Newman padded its advantage with two runs at the bottom of the fourth off four hits, including two doubles.

The Upper Iowa rally started in the sixth as Macy Alderson walked and stole second to begin the inning. She was later brought in by a Proud, grounding out to shortstop. With two outs, Pomeroy singled and advanced to second off a hit by Alber.

Foral brought in Pomeroy, singling to right field and advancing Alber to third. Mara Sivley ended the inning by bringing in the two runners with a double, making the score 6-4. 

After a scoreless bottom of the sixth for the Jets, Alderson and Ella Perkins walked to start the seventh inning. Newman threw a wild pitch to advance the runners, and Proud took advantage with an RBI single, allowing Alderson to score. Pomeroy then singled toward right field to bring home Perkins to knot the score, 6-6. UIU held NU scoreless in the bottom of the seventh, sending the game to extra innings. 

Runners were placed on second to start extras. Emma Tautges doubled to center field, allowing Foral to score. However, the Jets answered at the bottom of the inning by scoring two runs as Hannah Nordby hit the walk-off single to win, 8-7.  

Pomeroy led the team with two hits. She also added a run and an RBI on the night. Proud and Sivley each had a team-high two RBIs. Sivley and Tautges each had a double. 

Sivley pitched 3.2 innings, striking out three batters. The freshman allowed three hits and gave up two unearned runs. Cara Farnam started her first game for the Peacocks and played four innings. She allowed 10 hits and gave up six runs, four of which were earned. 

Emma Taylor had the best overall game for Newman with three runs and two hits. MaKenna Majors played the most innings with 5.2. She also allowed five hits and gave up four runs. 

There was a total of five errors in the game, four by UIU and one by NU. Newman left 11 runners on base, while Upper Iowa left six. The Peacocks walked six times compared to the Jets' three.