April 29, 2008

Game One Box Score || Game Two Box Score

The Peacock softball team played their final two home games of the season on Tuesday afternoon. Upper Iowa welcomed the future, NSIC-foe Minnesota State for a non-conference double header. UIU fell behind 6-0 after the top half of the first inning, but scrathced their way back into the game slowly until Jackie Greco hit a three-run homer to left and pulled the home team within three runs, 8-5. The Peacocks weren't able to score any more runs in their final at bat and dropped game one. In game two, pitchers were in control throughout. The Mavericks scored one run in the fourth and it was enough to earn the game two victory, 1-0.

The Mavericks did not waste any time putting six runs on the board in the first inning thanks to three hits and two Peacock errors. Minnesota State added another run in the second and moved out to a 7-0 lead. Upper Iowa put their first run on the board in the fifth inning. Erin Bennek opened the inning with a walk and moved to second when Stefani Schulte reached on an error. Jackie Greco singled down the right field line to drive Bennek in.

The Mavericks got the run back in their half of the sixth, but UIU rallied in the bottom of the sixth and cut the deficit to just three runs. The Peacocks scored four runs in the inning thanks to a Schulte rbi-single to center and a three-run jack off the bat of Greco over the left centerfield wall. The Peacocks ended the inning trailing the visitors 8-5. The Peacocks came up empty in the seventh inning and dropped game one.

The Peacocks and Mavericks went through the first three innings of game two scoreless before Minnesota State put the first run on the scoreboard in the fourth inning. The Mavericks scored the run on a sacrifice fly. Minnesota State loaded the bases with three straight singles prior to the sac fly. UIU Starter Christy Loan regained control and got out of the inning.

Both pitchers remained in control as the game went to the seventh. Upper Iowa threatend in the fifth and sixth innings but didn't score any runs to tie the game. The Peacocks used back-to-back walks to Katie Flood and Amanda Gargantiel, but could not advance the runners as they hit into a fielder's choice and struck out twice. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Nikki Davis reached base with a double to the right centerfield gap with two outs. The Peacocks stranded the runner on second and weren't able to take advantage of the opportunity. In the Peacocks' final chance in the seventh, the MSU starter Samantha Rohr bore down and opened the inning with a strikeout. With one out, Gargantiel took her second walk of the game. After the walk, Rohr finished her outing with her twelfth and thirteenth strikeouts of the day.

Loan threw a great game for the home team as she went the distance throwing seven innings while scattering seven hits and allowing just one run. At the plate, Davis rapped out two of the Peacocks three hits against Rohr.

The Peacocks finish their regular season with a record of 12-29. Upper Iowa will now travel to Marshall, Minnesota to play in the NSIC Tournament. The Peacocks enter the tournament as the #6 seed and will play #3 Wayne State at 10:00 this coming Friday, May 2. The NSIC tournament is a double elimination tournament; the champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Regional.