Game 1 - Upper Iowa 9 Wayne State 6

Game 2 - Upper Iowa 8 Wayne State 7

            Wayne State rallies fell short in both games as Upper Iowa held on for 9-6 and 8-7 wins in a Northern Sun Conference softball doubleheader played Saturday afternoon at Eischeid Complex in Fayette, Iowa.  The 'Cats are now 7-29 and 4-20 in the league while the Peacocks improve to 13-28 and 9-19 in NSIC play.
            The opener saw Wayne State hold an 11-7 edge in hits over Upper Iowa, but the Peacocks used two big innings with four runs in the first and five more in the fourth for a 9-6 win.
            WSC got off to a quick start as freshman Jenna Etmans belted a two-run homer to score Kim Vidlak (double) putting the 'Cats in front early.
            But Upper Iowa scored four runs in the bottom of the first and five more in the fourth for a 9-2 advantage.
            The Wildcats got one run back in the fifth on a Michaela Smith solo homer and scored three more times in the sixth to cut the Peacock lead to 9-6.  Vidlak had an RBI double while Smith delivered a run-scoring single as key hits in the inning.
            WSC got two runners on base in the seventh and had the tying run at the plate with two outs before the rally ended.
            Smith led WSC at the plate going 3 for 4 with a homer and two RBI.  Vidlak ended 2 for 5 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored while freshman outfielder Dylan Sweeney and freshman catcher Morgan Beaty each went 2 for 4.  Etmans added a home run and three RBI.
            Sophomore starter Sloan Cooksey pitched a complete game and suffered the pitching loss.
            The second game saw the host Peacocks complete the sweep holding off another late WSC rally for an 8-7 win.
            Trailing 1-0 entering the third inning, WSC produced five runs on five hits to take a 5-1 lead.
            Katie Humburg and Emily Hale each had two-run singles while Smith produced an RBI single for key hits in the inning.
            Upper Iowa came right back with three runs in the bottom of the third and added four more runs in the fourth to take a 8-5 lead.
            WSC scored single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to get within one run at 8-7 but for the second straight game the late rally fell just short. 
            Mary Krystofiak reached on a fielder's choice and scored when Emily Hale reached on a Peacock error in the fifth while Vidlak had a solo homer to lead off the sixth inning for the final Wildcat run.
            Four different players had two hits each for the Wildcats in the second game.  Vidlak was 2 for 4 with a homer and two runs scored followed by Humburg going 2 for 4 with two RBI.  Smith went 2 for 4 with two singles while Abby Husing finished 2 for 3 with a pair of singles.
            WSC used three pitchers in the game with senior Maddie Moser suffering the loss in 3 2/3 innings of relief in place of starter Hadley Chvatal.  Freshman Callie Carraher also worked 2 1/3 innings of one-hit relief while recording three strikeouts.
            Wayne State closes the 2021 season on Sunday at #20 Winona State starting at 1 p.m.