HAMMOND, Ind. - Peacock baseball (5-4) split a pair of games with Purdue Northwest (1-1) on Saturday. Gabe Olson picked up a win in game two, throwing four scoreless innings with two strikeouts in the 5-2 victory.
The Peacocks fell, 16-2, in a seven-inning game one. The Pride scored in every inning but the third, outhitting UIU 12-4 in the win. UIU responded by outhitting Purdue Northwest 7-4 in a six-inning game two. Cael Luzum had the highlight of the game with a 2RBI triple in the sixth inning.
Thane Meiners led UIU on the day with two hits, a double and three walks. He finished 2-3 for an on-base percentage of .833. JJ Vargas and Brock Zimmer each had two hits as well. Vargas walked once and knocked in an RBI. Zimmer knocked in two RBIs. Gabe Bombardier also had a hit and an RBI.
Olson started game two, pitching four innings. He allowed four walks and two hits. Dylan Hesch entered in relief for Olson, pitching two innings while allowing two hits, two runs and two walks. The sophomore struck out two batters.
UIU travels to Lebanon, Illinois next weekend for a four-game nonconference series against McKendree (Ill.). The Peacocks play on Friday, Feb. 27 at noon with a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 28, and a single game on Sunday, March 1.
Purdue Northwest 16, Upper Iowa 2
The Pride used three walks, a triple and a single to score four runs in the opening inning. UIU loaded the bases in the second inning, but was unable to convert. PNW scored the fifth run of the game in the bottom of the inning with a Billy Chidsey RBI single.
Upper Iowa scored in the fourth, starting with a Jayce Klug walk, Safranski single and Luzum hit-by-pitch. Bombardier and Zimmer each grounded out to bring in UIU's two lone runs of the game.
The Pride scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth, six runs in the bottom of the fifth and two runs in the bottom of the sixth to win, 16-2. Drew Kosteba and Denham Kozy each totaled four RBIs and a triple. Kosteba had three hits while Cozy had two hits.
Vargas, Meiners, Jared Hoodjer and Safranski each had a hit for UIU. Meiners reached in all three at-bats, totaling two walks. Bombardier and Zimmer each had RBIs.
Brett Nicodemus picked up the loss in the start. He allowed five runs on three hits and four walks with a strikeout. Isaiah Maes, Garrett Konz and Marcus Champagne each recorded a strikeout in their appearances.
Upper Iowa 5, Purdue Northwest 2
Zimmer and Bombardier both singled up the middle while Meiners walked to load the bases in the first inning. Mason Gamboa struck out swinging, but reached on a wild pitch to bring Zimmer home for the first run of the game.
The Pride stranded two on base in the bottom of the inning. UIU struck again in the second. After a Luzum walk and Zimmer single, Vargas hit an RBI single to left field, scoring Luzum for the second run of the game.
The game remained 2-0 until the sixth inning. Klug singled, and Safranski was hit-by-pitch. Luzum then hit the first triple of the season for the Peacocks, scoring two runs. Zimmer grounded out, bringing in Luzum for the 5-0 lead.
PNW scored two runs in the bottom of the inning with a Hunter Nolan 2RBI single. Hesch got a flyout to Safranski in left field and a strikeout on the mound to end the inning and win the game in six after darkness.
Olson got his first win of the season with four innings pitched, two hits, zero runs, four walks and two strikeouts. Hesch pitched two innings in relief with two hits, two earned runs, two walks and two strikeouts.
Zimmer knocked a team-high two hits with an RBI and scored a run. Luzum scored twice, reaching on his 2RBI triple and a walk. Vargas, Bombardier, Meiners and Klug all recorded a hit. Meiners' hit was a double in the fifth inning, his fourth of the season. Safranski walked and scored a run.
Luzum, Klug and Safranski each stole a base. UIU left eight runners on base while Purdue Northwest left seven. The Peacocks outhit the Pride, 7-4. PNW had the only error of the game.
