TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - Upper Iowa baseball (0-1) started the season with a 13-7 loss to Northeastern State (Okla.) (1-1) on Friday. Both teams totaled nine hits, while the Peacocks had three errors and the Riverhawks had two errors. 

Cael Luzum walked to start the game, and Gabe Bombardier recorded the first hit for the Peacocks with a double down the left field line. A Brock Zimmer single and a JJ Vargas groundout brought both of them in to score two runs. Later in the opening frame, Paul Safranski singled to left field, bringing in Zimmer for the 3-0 early lead. 

NSU scored its first run of the game in the bottom of the first after a walk, a passed ball and an error. The game remained 3-1 until the bottom of the third inning. 

In that third inning, NSU's Tregan Hyder hit a 2RBI no-out single to left field, tying the game at 3-3. After loading the bases, the Riverhawks scored three more runs on a sacrifice fly, a single and a groundout to lead, 6-3. 

The Peacocks trimmed the lead in the fifth, starting with a Vargas walk and a Thane Meiners double. Mason Gamboa then reached first on an error, bringing both of the runners in to trail, 6-5. 

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Riverhawks gained a firm advantage by scoring seven runs. The Peacocks struggled to find the strike zone, walking six straight batters with one hit-by-pitch, which brought in four Riverhawk runs. A double by NSU's Klete Finley, a fielder's choice and another hit-by-pitch extended the lead to 13-5. UIU walked six batters and had three hit-by-pitch in the inning. 

Vargas knocked UIU's first home run of the season to lead off the seventh inning. After Meiners singled and advanced on two wild pitches, Safranski brought him in with a groundout to second base. That would be the final run of the game. A Zimmer single in the ninth would be the final hit for the Peacocks on the day. 

Zimmer, Vargas and Meiners each had two hits for UIU in the 3-5 spot in the lineup. Vargas knocked in two RBIs and hit a home run. Meiners and Bombardier each had a double. Safranski added two RBIs off his single and groundout. 

NSU had one extra-base hit in the game with Finley's double. The Riverhawks stole six bases compared to one for UIU by Luzum. NSU left 14 runners on base while UIU left eight on base. 

Brett Nicodemus took the loss for the Peacocks after starting the game. He pitched two innings, giving up two hits and five runs (three earned), with four walks and a strikeout. Gabe Olson pitched three innings with three hits and four strikeouts. Jaxon Valdez had a solid day, tallying four strikeouts in 2.1 innings while not allowing any runs. 

NSU's Evan Schuelke got the win, pitching two innings with three strikeouts, one hit and no runs. Bryce Parlin, who started the game, struck out a game-high eight batters. 

The Peacocks have two more matchups with the Riverhawks this weekend. Both games are at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.