UPPER IOWA SCORES 35 RUNS IN SWEEP OF UMC SOFTBALL

The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) softball team gave up 35 runs over two losses to Upper Iowa in a pair NSIC games played at the Eischeid Softball Complex in Fayette, Iowa.

GAME ONE – Minnesota Crookston’s bats put the Golden Eagles in control after one inning. Hannah Macias (Fr., West Covina, CA) walked with one out in the inning before a strikeout appeared to set UMC up for a quick inning. With two outs in the inning, Rocky Bjorge (Sr., Prior Lake) walked to continue the inning before Samantha Proctor (Jr., Champlin) reached on an error in right field that scored Macias giving Minnesota Crookston a 1-0 lead. Maggie Morales (Sr., Tucson, AZ) continued the two-out rally with a base hit to center field scoring Bjorge as the Golden Eagles’ advantage grew to 2-0. Mikaela Rodriguez (Jr., Laveen, AZ) concluded the big first inning with a three-run home run over the left field fence giving Minnesota Crookston a 5-0 lead after one inning. UMC’s lead wouldn’t last through the second inning as their defense allowed Upper Iowa to put up a big inning of their own. After a leadoff single, back to back errors at shortstop loaded the bases. A bases-loaded walk provided the Peacocks’ first run of the inning before a sacrifice fly hit to left field plated the second run of the frame trimming Upper Iowa’s deficit down to 5-2. A single to center field scored two more runs followed by a second-straight single up the middle plating two more Peacocks giving Upper Iowa a 6-5 lead. Another walk and single reloaded the bases with two out in the top of the second but a pop-up out to second base ended the inning with the Peacocks now in front 6-5 heading into the bottom of the second inning. In the top of the third inning, Upper Iowa continued finding ways to manufacture runs. Following a groundout to start the inning, a bunt for a hit set up a double to left center field scoring the runner from first base off of a throwing error from the outfield giving UIU a 7-5 lead. Following a third straight base hit and steal, the Peacocks had runners at second and third with just one out in the inning. After a walk loaded the bases, a grand slam sailed over the left field fence pushing Upper Iowa ahead 11-5. After a pitching change, the Peacock bats continued to roll with three more hits in the inning plating three more runs as Upper Iowa’s advantage grew to 14-5 heading into the bottom of the third inning. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Hannah Macias led off the inning with a double to left field followed by a single by Malia Pula (Jr., Gilroy, CA) putting runners on first and third base. Samantha Proctor drove a single to right field plating the first run of the inning from third base before Maggie Morales reached on a fielder’s choice plating Pula and trimming Minnesota Crookston’s deficit down to 14-7 after four innings. The Peacocks took one run back with an RBI single to right field giving Upper Iowa a 15-7 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Leah Macias (Fr., West Covina, CA) doubles to left field to start the inning. A single put runners on first and second base before an error in left allowed Hannah Macias to reach safely and round the bases scoring behind her teammates as UMC trimmed their deficit to 15-10. A solo home run driven out to left center field by Malia Pula pulled Minnesota Crookston within 15-11 into the sixth inning. The Golden Eagles scraped across one more run in the bottom of the sixth inning slashing their deficit down to 15-12 heading into the final inning. Upper Iowa unloaded in the top of the final inning plating seven more runs ending Minnesota Crookston’s rally and closing out a 22-12 win in game one. 

For UMC
Malia Pula  3-5, Home run, 2 runs, 1 rbi
Haley Strachan  3-5
Maggie Morales  2-4, Home run, 2 rbi
Samantha Proctor  2-4, 2 rbi

GAME TWO – Following a ground out to open the first inning, an error and walk put runners on first and second base before a double into right-center field plated two runs allowing Upper Iowa to claim a 2-0 lead after one inning. Upper Iowa started the second inning with one walk and two singles to load the bases before a fly out to left field advanced all three runners as the Peacocks’ lead grew to 3-0. A fielder’s choice out at second plated the second run of the inning before a single down the left field line allowed two more runs to score as Upper Iowa’s lead grew to 6-0. A single to right field scored the final run of the inning as the Peacocks took a 7-0 lead into the third inning. Upper Iowa led off the third inning with a walk, followed by a steal before a ground out moved the lead runner to third base. A single up the middle provided the Peacocks with their eighth run of the game giving Upper Iowa an 8-0 lead after three innings. The Peacocks took a double-figure lead with a bases-clearing triple in the top of the fifth inning to put Upper Iowa in front 10-0. An error in centerfield allowed one more run to score from third base further advancing the Peacocks’ lead to 11-0. The Peacocks added three more hits the rest of the inning, scoring two additional runs and taking a 13-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning. Needing four runs to extend the game, UMC failed to generate any offense in the final inning as Upper Iowa closed out the day with 35 total run combined over two games taking the second contest 13-0 in five innings.

UMC drops to 13-29 on the season and 2-16 in conference play. The Golden Eagles return to the field for a third-straight doubleheader tomorrow, this time at St. Cloud State, starting at 1 p.m. Upper Iowa improves to 20-13 overall and 12-6 in NSIC action.

For UMC