March 1, 2008

Box Score

The Peacock baseball team finally returned to the diamond after weather forced the last two weekend series to be cancelled. Upper Iowa traveled to Warrensburg, Missouri to face the #28 Mules of Central Missouri on Friday, Feb. 29. The Peacocks trailed 3-1 after three innings and gave up a five-run sixth inning as the Mules pulled away to defeat their guests 9-1.

Central Missouri put a mark on the scoreboard first with a run in the first inning thanks to a pair of doubles with two outs. The Mules continued to creep ahead of the Peacocks with a run in the second after their third double of the game.

Upper Iowa pulled within one, 2-1, in the top half of the third inning. Seth Fox led the inning off with a double down the right field line. After two Peacock outs, Fox came around to score after a wild pitch got away and allowed the UIU second baseman to score from second.

The Mules added a third in the bottom of the inning when their fourth double of the game scored another Mule baserunner. Both team's offenses went scoreless in the fourth and fifth, but Central Missouri would take control of the game in the bottom of the sixth when they erupted for five runs on five hits. The two big hits of the inning were a two-run triple off starter Zach Raff and a two-run homer off reliever Brian Putnam. The home team added one more run in the eighth inning to take the game, 9-1.

Raff (0-2) took the loss on the hill for the Peacocks. The right-hander threw five innings allowing six runs on ten hits. Putnam threw two innings in relief allowing two runs on two hits. Gavin Mason came to the mound in the last two innings for Upper Iowa and threw well. Mason allowed one run on one hit over two innings and struck out five Mules.

The Peacocks were outhit 13-8 in the game, but the extra base advantage held by the home team made the big difference. UIU hit two doubles and a triple, while UCM rapped out five doubles, a triple, and two homeruns.

Lucas Wilsing led Upper Iowa at the plate. The designated hitter went 2-4 with a double and a triple. Fox, Kreston Albright, Marcus Thompson, T.J. Johnson, Brock Spangenberg, and Ryan Arp all came up with a hit in the game, but the team could never string any of their hits together.

The Peacocks will return to Crane Stadium on Saturday, Mar. 1, to battle the #28 Mules again. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in Warrensburg, Missouri.