WEST LIBERTY, Iowa - Upper Iowa softball (5-21, 0-2 GLVC) opened GLVC play on Saturday against No. 11 UIndy (21-1, 2-0 GLVC), falling in both games. Cara Farnam led the Peacocks with two hits and three RBIs, including a two-run homer in game two.
The Peacocks lost the first game in five innings, 13-2, and the second game, 3-2. UIU trailed 3-0 entering the final half inning of game two, with Farnam hitting the two-run shot to right center for the biggest hit of the day. The junior also totaled five putouts in left field with two diving catches in game two.
Dani Laughlin led the team in hits, going 3-for-5 with an RBI on a bases-loaded walk. Jescie Comstock and Emma Tautges both totaled two hits. Elliott Pomeroy added a single in game two.
Sara Reid pitched the entirety of game two with six strikeouts. She allowed three earned runs on eight hits and five walks. Dorothy Ziebell pitched the first three innings of game one with a strikeout, and Farnam pitched two innings.
UIU is scheduled to play in Fayette on Saturday, March 21, against Quincy (Ill.) (4-18, 0-2 GLVC) and on Sunday, March 22, against Truman State (Mo.) (9-19, 1-3 GLVC). Both doubleheaders are scheduled for noon at Eischeid Softball Complex.
Game One: UIndy 13, Upper Iowa 2
Brooklyn Willis led off both the first and third innings for the Greyhounds with solo home runs, putting UIndy up 2-0. After two walks and an RBI single. Shelby Cook knocked a three-run home run to right field for a five-run third inning and a 6-0 lead.
The Greyhounds added five runs in the fourth inning. Cara Cooper started it with an RBI single. Josie Jager walked in a run, and Maya Rodriguez brought in another on a groundout. Christina Stankus hit a 2RBI single for an 11-0 advantage.
Comstock and Laughlin hit back-to-back singles and advanced on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth. Farnam grounded out to bring in pinch runner Taylor Hamaker for the score.
UIndy added two runs in the fifth on a double, three walks and an RBI groundout. The Peacocks walked three times and were hit-by-pitch once to bring in a run on a Laughlin RBI walk in the bottom of the fifth.
The Greyhounds outhit the Peacocks, 9-3, and UIU committed the game's only error. The Peacocks were walked three times and UIndy was walked nine times. Peacock batters struck out nine times compared to once for UIndy. The Greyhounds stranded seven runners compared to nine for UIU.
Ziebell got the loss for the Peacocks after pitching 3.0 innings, allowing seven hits, five walks and 10 earned runs. She struck out one batter. UIndy's Cheyanne Eads totaled six strikeouts in four innings while allowing three hits, no walks and one earned run.
Game Two: UIndy 3, Upper Iowa 2
UIndy struck first in the second inning on back-to-back singles by Rodriguez and Caitlin Bunte, aided by a Peacock error for the 1-0 lead. An Eads single, a Cook single and a Rodriguez RBI single gave the Greyhounds the second run of the game in the third inning.
The Greyhound's third run came in the seventh inning, starting with an Eads walk, Cook double and Stankus walk to load the bases with one out. Rodriguez hit a liner straight to Pomeroy at shortstop, who could only get a throw off to third for an out after the ball popped out of her glove, letting in a run on a fielder's choice.
After Tautges wore a pitch, Farnam smacked a one-out homer to trail, 3-2. Pomeroy hit a two-out single to make the game interesting, but the Peacocks were unable to convert to tie the game.
UIndy ouhit UIU, 8-7, and the Peacocks committed the only two errors of the game. The Greyhounds left 11 runners on base compared to five for UIU. The Peacocks did not record a walk, while UIndy walked five times.
Reid pitched all seven innings with six strikeouts, allowing eight hits, five walks and three earned runs. Caitlin Bunte got the win for UIndy, pitching all seven innings with seven strikeouts. She allowed two runs on seven hits, no walks and one hit-by-pitch.
