May 4, 2008

UIU - WSC Box Score || UIU - MSUM Box Score

The Peacock softball team dropped two games at the 2008 NSIC tournament and has been eliminated. Upper Iowa entered the eight-team tourney with the #6 seed and lost to #3 Wayne State and #7 MSU Moorhead. The losses force a sudden end to the team's season. Upper Iowa was 12-31 overall this year and had an even 9-9 record in Northern Sun play, which was good for sixth place in the regular season.

Wayne State jumped out to an early 3-0 in the bottom of the second, but Upper Iowa rallied quickly with two runs in the top of the third. The Peacock runs scored on three hits. Danielle DeSerano led off the inning with an infield single and advanced to second on a ground out. DeSerano scored on a double to center by Kami Appelt. Appelt then scored when Nikki Davis stepped up and delivered a double to right field.

The Wildcats were quick to regain the momentum as they put up six runs on five hits and were aided by a Peacock error to race out to a 9-2 lead after just three innings. The Wildcats added another run in the fourth and moved out to a 10-2 advantage.

The Peacocks knocked out five hits in the top of the fifth, but were only able to score two runs as they ground into a double play with the bases loaded and only one out. DeSerano opened the inning with her second infield single and moved to second on a groundout. After an Appelt single, UIU had runners on the corners. Davis reached on a single that scored DeSerano. Erin Bennek then stood in and singled to left center to drive in Appelt. A hard single to center by Stephany Daubenspeck loaded the bases for the Peacocks, but a ground ball double play ended the Upper Iowa rally.

Wayne State would add one more run on the day and take the game 11-4. With the loss, Upper Iowa was set to play against MSU Moorhead in one of the tournament's first two elimination games. The Peacocks defeated the Dragons in both NSIC games they played this season.

MSU Moorhead put the first run of the game on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning and held their lead until the bottom of the second when Upper Iowa was able to tie the score at 1-1. Davis opened the inning with a walk and moved to second on a sac bunt by Bennek. With one out, Daubenspeck singled to put runners on first and third. Stefani Schulte then stepped up and hit an rbi-single through the hole on the right side. Jackie Greco then singled to left to load the bases. The final two outs of the inning were made at home on force outs that cut down Peacock runs.

The final difference came in the sixth inning when MSU Moorhead stepped on the plate for three runs on four hits. The Peacocks were unable to muster a comeback and saw their season come to a close as they were eliminated from the NSIC Tournament.

Davis threw well in her final game for the Peacocks. The senior from Lovington, Illinois threw seven innings allowing four runs on nine hits. She struck out three of the 34 batters she faced.