April 16, 2008

Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score

The Upper Iowa baseball team played Minnesota, Crookston on the second day of a four game Northern Sun series. The Peacocks won games one and two on Sunday, 13-0 and 7-3. UIU's offense struggled on the day scoring three runs in game one and using a late inning rally to take the final game of the season. Greg Sieck picked up a complete game shutout in game one, while Nick Fjelland earned the win with six innings in game two. Mitch McClay earned the save in game two; the first of his collegiate career. With the four game sweep of the Golden Eagles, the Peacocks saw their record improve to 15-19 overall and 12-6 in the Northern Sun.

The Peacocks grabbed their first run of game one on a Marcus Thompson fielder's choice that drove in a run in the third inning. Upper Iowa tallied two more runs in the fifth inning as Seth Fox scored on a wild pitch and Nick Fjelland scored on a ground out by Lucas Wilsing. The runs extended the home team's lead to 3-0 and that would be all the runs Upper Iowa needed as they picked up the victory in game one of Monday's doubleheader.

Sieck had a terrific pitching performance for the Peacocks as he kept the UM, Crookston hitters off balance the entire game. Sieck grabbed his second win of the season by pitching a complete game shutout and scattering three Golden Eagle hits. The southpaw's control of the strike zone was excellent as he struck out seven batters while issuing only one walk.

Fjelland had two hits including one double and one run scored. Wilsing and Fox each had one hit with Fox scoring two runs, while Eric Sorensen had one double to round out the hits for the Peacocks.

The final game of the series proved to be more of a challenge for the Peacock hitters as they failed to score in the first five innings of play while only scraping together three hits. The Upper Iowa bats came to the plate in the bottom of the sixth trailing 3-0. Thompson and Brock Spangenberg put the Peacocks on the board by scoring on two passed balls. Fox came through in the clutch by knocking in Wilsing on a single to left center that tied the game at three runs. Fox eventually scored the go-ahead run on a Tom Longoni-single to left field. The Peacocks added two more insurance runs thanks to a Kreston Albright ground ball that was mishandled by UM, Crookston's second baseman. Longoni and Sorensen each scored on the Albright ground ball which gave the Peacocks a 6-3 advantage.

Fjelland stepped up for the Peacock pitching staff as he tossed six solid innings for his first win of the season. Although he had not started since facing Grand Valley State on March 17th, Fjelland had a solid performance on the mound as he allowed only three runs on five hits while striking out seven UM, Crookston batters. Mitch McClay picked up his first save as a Peacock while giving up one run on no hits and one walk.

Spangenberg topped the hit category for the Peacocks with two including a double and a run scored. Fox and Longoni each had one rbi-single, while Fjelland and Wilsing each knocked a double for the Peacocks.

The Peacocks will return to Robertson Woods Field tomorrow, April 15, for a non-conference double header. Upper Iowa will host the Rangers of Wisconsin-Parkside. The first pitch is set for 2:30 p.m.