LEBANON, Ill. - Senior right fielder Jared Hoodjer had an astounding day at the plate in Friday's doubleheader against McKendree (Ill.) (3-9) with five hits, three home runs, a double and three RBIs. The Peacocks (6-5) split with the Bearcats in nonconference matchups with a 14-7 loss in game one and a 17-4 win in game two.
Cael Luzum went 4-for-8 batting with a double, a home run and four RBIs. Senior Brock Zimmer also had four hits with two home runs, a double and four RBIs. Thane Meiners added three hits, two walks, a double, a home run and three RBIs. Mason Gamboa and JJ Vargas both hit a home run for the Peacocks.
On the mound, Gabe Olson picked up his second win of the season after getting the start in game two. He pitched a season-high five innings with three strikeouts. He allowed three runs on five hits with three walks.
Landon Boisen pitched the final two innings of game one in relief, allowing two hits and a run. Boisen, Luzum and Jaxon Valdez each threw three strikeouts in their pitching appearances.
The Peacocks are back in action on Saturday at Hypes Field to wrap up the series with a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. The first game is scheduled for seven innings, and the second game is scheduled for nine innings.
McKendree 14, Upper Iowa 7
McKendree's Hunter Sherman and Quest Hull knocked solo homers in the first two innings, while Meiners knocked a solo homer in the second for UIU to trail, 2-1. McKendree added a sacrifice fly in the second, two more solo home runs and an RBI single for a 6-1 lead after three innings.
Hoodjer knocked solo homers in the fourth and sixth innings, and Zimmer had one in the fifth to trail, 6-4. McKendree totaled four runs in the bottom of the sixth on four hits to regain the commanding lead, 10-4.
Meiners hit an RBI single, and Hunter Jones brought in a run with a bases-loaded walk to trail 10-6 in the seventh. After a pitching change, McKendree's Owen Dunn left UIU's loaded bases stranded with a strikeout.
The Bearcats blew the game open with four runs on one hit, three hit-by-pitches and two walks in the seventh. Luzum hit a solo homer in the eighth for the last run of the game to make the final score 14-7.
Hoodjer went 3-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, a double and two RBIs. Meiners had two hits, including a home run and two RBIs. Luzum and Zimmer both hit homers, and Jones walked a team-high three times.
Luzum took the loss in the start, pitching three innings. He gave up six hits, six earned runs and three walks with three strikeouts. Jaxon Valdez pitched three innings while giving up six hits, four earned runs, a walk and threw three strikeouts. Kirill Landry totaled the seventh strikeout for the pitching staff. Matt Hughes pitched the final innings without allowing a hit or walk.
McKendree outhit Upper Iowa, 13-8, and both teams committed an error. The Bearcats were walked seven times with three hit-by-pitches, and the Peacocks were walked six times with one hit-by-pitch. UIU left nine runners on base, and McKendree left 11.
Upper Iowa 17, McKendree 4
The Bearcats struck first, scoring a run in the first inning on a Max Meuli RBI double, and then they scored a second run on a Hull solo homer. Luzum brought UIU's first run in the game in the third with a sacrifice fly that allowed Jayce Klug to score.
Zimmer tied the game in the fourth with a solo homer. Gabe Bombardier followed it up with a double, and Gamboa homered to give UIU a 4-2 lead.
The Peacocks came alive in the fifth inning starting with a Luzum single, Vargas getting hit by a pitch and a Hoodjer single. Zimmer brought in two more runs with an RBI double. Bombardier brought in Zimmer and Hoodjer after reaching on an error. Meiners brought Bombardier home for the ninth run of the game with an RBI double.
McKendree scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth before Vargas smacked a three-run homer in the sixth after a Luzum double for a 12-3 lead. After Zimmer singled, he scored on a passed ball. Klug walked in a run, and Luzum hit a 2RBI single to cap off the seven-run inning and a 16-3 advantage.
The Bearcats scored a run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth. Hoodjer smacked his third solo homer of the day in the top of the seventh. Boisen got a strikeout, groundout and lineout to go three-up, three-down in the seventh and win, 17-4.
Luzum and Zimmer each had three hits and three RBIs. Zimmer smacked a double and a homer while Luzum had a double. Bombardier and Hoodjer both had two hits, with Bombardier recording a double and Hoodjer smacking a homer. Gamboa and Vargas each had a home run while Meiners had a double. Klug walked three times.
Olson picked up his second win of the season after starting the game and pitching five innings. He totaled three strikeouts while giving up five hits, three earned runs and three walks. Boisen pitched two innings while giving up two hits, one earned run and tallying three strikeouts.
UIU outhit McKendree 13-7, and the Bearcats committed the only error of the game. The Peacocks were walked six times while the Bearcats were walked three times. Upper Iowa left four runners on base compared to five for McKendree.
