TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - The Peacocks (0-2) fell in eight innings, 18-8, on Saturday in the second game of three against Northeastern State (2-1). Upper Iowa totaled eight hits on the day, led by senior Thane Meiners with two doubles and redshirt freshman transfer Hunter Jones with three singles. 

The Peacocks started the game strong, scoring four runs in the opening inning. Gabe Bombardier and Brock Zimmer knocked singles and JJ Vargas walked to load the bases. Meiners took advantage with a 2RBI double to left field. Later, Jones added a two-out single that scored two more runs. 

The lead did not last long, as NSU totaled six runs in the bottom of the first. With the bases loaded, junior Alex Nirider hit a 2RBI single through the right side. After a hit-by-pitch, senior Jackson Dillingham knocked in a grand slam for the 6-4 lead. 

The Peacocks got a run in the top of the third without recording a hit. Jones and Paul Safranski both reached after throwing errors on NSU's catcher following swinging strikeouts. Safranski's at-bat brought Jones in for the score, cutting the lead to 6-5. 

Dillingham opened the bottom of the third with a leadoff triple. After a sac fly, Gannon White hit the second triple of the inning to bring in two more runs. This gave the Riverhawks a 9-5 lead. Another Meiners double brought in an RBI for UIU's sixth run of the game in the top of the fourth.

NSU took firm control in the fourth inning, scoring six runs on four walks, two hits-by-pitch and two hits. Carson Miller hit a two-run homer, and Nirider had a 2RBI single in the inning, which extended the lead to 15-6.

The Riverhawks took a 10-run lead in the fifth inning, 16-6. The Peacocks extended the game for a bit in the seventh, sparked by a Jones single and Mason Gamboa double. Safranski reached on an error by the shortstop, bringing in two runs for UIU.

Northeastern State ended the game in the eighth inning, starting with a leadoff triple by Klete Finley. Back-to-back doubles by Jaxon Gregory and Nirider ended the game with an eighth-inning run-rule, 18-8.

Meiners was 2-of-4 with two doubles and three RBIs. Jones was 3-of-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Bombardier, Zimmer and Gamboa also recorded hits, with Gamboa having the only extra-base hit of the three with a double.

For the Riverhawks, Nirider was 4-of-5 with two doubles and five RBIs. Dillingham was 2-of-3 with four RBIs and a homer. Gregory was 2-of-4 with two doubles. Each Riverhawk who had an at-bat reached at some point in the game.

Isaiah Maes took the loss for the Peacocks after getting his first start of the season. The senior had a team-high four strikeouts. He allowed nine earned runs on seven hits with three walks.

Kirill Landry added three strikeouts in 1.2 innings pitched. He gave up one earned run on three hits and walked three batters. Cameron Powell pitched 2.1 innings while allowing four hits, one walk, two earned runs and tallied a strikeout. 

Thomas Brownfield started the game for Northeastern and got five strikeouts. Jackson Hill was the winning pitcher, striking out two batters and allowing one hit in 1.1 innings. Ray Wei got the save after entering with a 9-6 lead and pitching the final three innings. He didn't allow an earned run and tallied two strikeouts. 

The Riverhawks outhit the Peacocks, 15-8. NSU had four errors compared to one for UIU. Both teams left eight runners on base. 

The Peacocks wrap up the opening weekend with game three against Northeastern State at 1 p.m. on Sunday.