April 16, 2008

Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score

The Peacock baseball team played host to the Golden Eagles of Minnesota, Crookston in the first of two Northern Sun double headers on Sunday afternoon at Robertson Woods Field. Upper Iowa won game one as they scored thirteen runs in support of Brian Solemsaas' complete game shutout victory. In game two, the Peacocks rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to win the game 7-3. Upper Iowa improved their conference record to 10-6 in NSIC action.

The Peacocks scored three in the bottom of the first inning. The UIU offense in the first was highlighted by three rbi singles off the bats of Nick Fjelland, T.J. Johnson, and Seth Fox. Upper Iowa put another three runs on the scoreboard in the second fueled by a Fjelland-single that drove in two and a Lucas Wilsing-single to right that plated Fjelland.

Upper Iowa picked up a run in the third when Fjelland reached on an error scoring Ryan Arp. In the fourth, the Peacocks picked up another pair of runs on the bat of Erik Sorensen, who drove the ball to right center, scoring Johnson and Wilsing. This extended the Peacock lead to 9-0.

The home team picked up two more runs in the fifth inning. Johnson drove a run home with a single to shallow right center. Jon Napolitano, who reached on a double, scored on a Fox sacrifice fly to left.

Upper Iowa continued to add runs to its already large lead in the bottom of the sixth. Jarod Esqibel started the inning off with a single. Fjelland walked and Thompson was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Napolitano drove in a run with a single to center field. Mitch McClay came through with a pinch hit rbi-single. The single gave the Peacocks and UIU starter Solemsaas a 13-0 margin.

Solemsaas pitched a gem, tossing a complete game, two-hit shutout for his third victory of the season. Johnson led the Peacocks at the plate with three hits plus two rbi's and a run scored. Five players notched two hits including Kreston Albright, Wilsing, Napolitano, Sorensen, and Fjelland who also knocked in four runs and crossed the plate three times.

In the second game, UM, Crookston jumped on starter Gavin Mason for two runs in the first inning. The Upper Iowa bats opened their half of the first inning as Fjelland scored on a Thompson groundout.

Johnson reached on a single and advanced to second with a stolen base early in the bottom of the second inning. Johnson later scored on a wild pitch to even the score at two after the second inning. The Golden Eagles quickly retook the lead with a run in the top of the third.

Thompson was hit by a pitch in the home half of the third and crossed the plate when a balk was called on the UM, Crookston pitcher. The Peacocks were unable to take advantage with runners in scoring position as they stranded two runners at the end of the inning. The score was tied again at 3-3.

Seth Fox doubled down the left field line the lead of the bottom half of the fourth inning. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, Fox scored the go-ahead run on a Sorensen sacrifice fly. Upper Iowa added another run in the fifth on an Albright-single and tallied two more runs in the sixth thanks to a Johnson rbi-single and a Tom Longoni-groundout.

Chris Wlezien's four innings of relief in support of Mason proved to be the key in the victory as he only allowed four hits and didn't issue a walk. Thopmson and Johnson each had two hits and an rbi in the second game. Brock Spangenberg, Sorensen, and Fox all had one hit each.

The two teams will be back on the diamond tomorrow afternoon with games beginning at 12 p.m.