FAYETTE, Iowa - Upper Iowa baseball (16-27, 9-17 GLVC) takes its final road trip of the regular season to Kirksville, Missouri, to take on Truman State (Mo.) (12-32, 5-23 GLVC). The four-game series is set to begin on Thursday at 3 p.m., followed by a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Friday, then conclude with the series finale on Saturday at noon. 

LIVE OPTIONS
Fans unable to attend the games this weekend can stay connected with a pair of live options available at UIUPeacocks.com/Live, including live stats and a pay-per-view webcast through GLVCSN. Fans can also refer to the links attached to this story for all live options. 

LAST TIME OUT
The Peacocks are coming off a series loss to Quincy (31-18, 19-13 GLVC). After taking game one of the series on Friday, 13-6, the Peacocks got blown out in both games of the doubleheader, losing the first game, 28-7, and the second game, 12-6. It did not get much easier for the Peacocks on Sunday, losing that game, 11-7.

Cael Luzum reached base 15 times across the four-game series with three hits, six walks and six hit by pitches. He hit a double, a home run, drove in two runs and scored nine runs. 

Thane Meiners had four hits, seven RBIs and six runs scored. Meiners hit a grand slam in the Peacocks' win that finished off a nine-run fifth inning.  

Gabe Bombardier had seven hits, including two home runs, 10 RBIs and three runs scored. One of Bombardier's home runs was a game-tying two-run home run in the first inning. The other home run was a grand slam. 

Jared Hoodjer had seven hits and two walks. He hit one double, one game-tying home run, four RBIs and scored three runs. Hoodjer also displayed outstanding defense in left field, having an outfield assist and a diving catch.

On the mound, Gabe Olson picked up his seventh win of the season, pitching seven innings, giving up 12 hits, five earned runs and had four strikeouts without walking a batter. Dalton Dibert pitched three scoreless innings in the series finale as the Peacocks were looking to mount a comeback. 

RECORD WATCH
Vargas is one home run shy of tying the program record of 30 set last season by Gunnar Wicklund. He has 10 home runs this season, tying for the most in a single season in his career. 

STATISTICAL SUMMARY
Hoodjer is the team-leader with a .333 batting average, .593 slugging percentage and a 1.003 OPS. Hoodjer has 41 hits, including eight doubles, eight home runs, 21 RBIs and 29 runs scored.

Meiners is second on the team with a .320 batting average, 48 hits and 25 walks. He has hit seven doubles, two home runs, 27 RBIs, and 34 runs scored.

Bombardier leads the team with 50 hits and 56 RBIs. The senior infielder is slashing .313/.387/.569 with 11 doubles, 10 home runs and 33 runs scored. JJ Vargas has hit 10 home runs with a .945 OPS.

Luzum has a team-best 13 doubles, 43 runs scored and a .457 on-base percentage. He has a .305 batting average with 43 hits and 17 extra base hits. Brock Zimmer is second on the team with 42 runs scored and 35 RBIs. He is third on the team with 43 hits. 

Gabe Olson is second in conference with seven wins on the season, with a 4.40 ERA, which ranks fourth best in the GLVC. Olson has pitched 57.1 innings, striking out 48 batters and walking 24 batters. Opponents are batting .322 against him. 

Kyle Hrncir has made eight starts, going 42.2 innings with a 4.85 ERA and a team-best 51 strikeouts while opponents are batting .245. Dylan Hesch has made nine starts, going 40.1 innings with a 6.69 ERA and 36 strikeouts.

As a team, the Peacocks are batting .263 and have an 8.53 ERA. Upper Iowa's offense has hit 44 home runs, which ranks seventh in the GLVC. While the pitching has combined for 311 strikeouts, which ranks sixth in the conference.

AROUND THE GLVC
Five teams have clinched a spot in the GLVC tournament, which leaves three spots open heading into the final weekend of the regular season. Missouri S&T (29-15, 22-6 GLVC) still sits at the top of the standings.

Missouri-St. Louis (27-19, 21-7 GLVC) took sole possession of second place after sweeping Lincoln (Mo.) (6-38, 0-28 GLVC) this past weekend. UMSL will take on fourth-place Maryville (Mo.) (25-20, 19-9 GLVC) in the season finale this weekend. 

No. 25 Illinois Springfield (30-16, 18-10 GLVC) and Indianapolis (27-19, 18-10 GLVC) are tied for fifth place in the GLVC tournament. Rockhurst (Mo.) (28-16, 16-12 GLVC) holds onto the last seed as they prepare to play William Jewell (Mo.) (13-33, 7-21 GLVC). 

Drury's Connor Bain took home GLVC Player of the Week after the teams series win against Rockhurst this weekend. Bain batted .500 (6-for-12) and recorded two walks, posting a .500 on-base percentage. He also ripped two doubles and one homer for a .917 slugging percentage while driving in 10 runs and scoring three. This is Bain's third Player of the Week honor this season.

Missouri-St. Louis Bradon Johnson earned GLVC Pitcher of the Week after tossing seven shutout innings against Lincoln. Johnson only allowed four hits with 10 strikeouts and no walks. 

ABOUT THE BULLDOGS
Truman State snapped a six-game losing streak on Sunday during its exhibition game. They currently sit at 14th in the GLVC.

Freshman utility player Nick Steurer has been a star for the Bulldogs, leading the team in almost every statistical category. He is slashing .411/.443/.630 with 60 hits, 18 doubles, four triples, 40 runs scored and 24 stolen bases. His .411 batting average is the 5th-best in the GLVC. 

Junior infielder Evan Davis is second on the team with a .357 batting average, .914 OPS, 10 doubles, and 32 RBIs. Another junior infielder, Oliver Degenhardt, is batting .333 with 51 hits and 23 stolen bases. 

Senior outfielder Tyler Tieman has started every game, batting .301 with a team-best 35 RBIs and is tied for a team-best five home runs.

Senior lefty Isaac Epp ranks ninth in the GLVC with a 5.01 ERA. Epp has made 11 starts, pitching 55.2 innings while striking out 49 batters and walking 20 batters.

Sophomore righty Nick Phillips has also made 11 starts with a 6.83 ERA. Phillips has pitched 56.2 innings, has thrown two complete games, struck out 49 batters and has walked 27 batters.

As a team, Truman State is hitting .281 and has a 9.02 ERA. Truman is fourth best in the conference with 105 stolen bases.

Head coach Dan Davis is wrapping up his 20th season coaching the Bulldogs. Davis came to Truman State in 2006 after being the pitching coach for five seasons at Northern Iowa. Coach Davis' career record is 287-635, with his best season coming in 2015, when the team won a school-record 35 games and made the NCAA Tournament.