(Peru, Neb.) – The Ottawa University (OU) Braves had one thing on their mind. They wanted to stop their eight-game losing streak. In the process of doing so, they snapped the Peru State College (PSC) Bobcat baseball team's 12-game winning streak by sweeping a double header on Saturday, March 10.
Ottawa took the first game 5-3 and then won the second, 5-2. The Braves improved to 5-12 while Peru State fell to 12-4 on the season.
Game One Action
The Braves took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second.
It would be the fourth inning before the 'Cats would get on the board.
Brenden Gentry (Sallisaw, Okla.) reached base on a walk. Following two outs,
James Welty (Omaha) reached base on a Brave error and Gentry went to second.
Jonathan Castillo (Paterson, N.J.) doubled to deep right-center driving in both runners and was later out trying to reach third. But, the Bobcats had tied it up at 2-2.
Ottawa would regain the lead in the bottom of the inning to go up 3-2.
Peru State would knot it up again in the top of the fifth.
Jonathan Arche (Miami, Fla.) started things off with an infield single.
Jeff Eubank (Fort Pierce, Fla.) would then reach first on a fielder's choice as Arche was forced out at second.
J.L. Thomason (Holt, Fla.) doubled down the left field line with Eubank advancing to third.
Derek Voigt (Auburn, Wash.) then singled to shallow right-center scoring Eubank to tie it at 3-3.
The Bobcats would eventually load the bases, but would not be able to capitalize on it.
By scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth, the Braves eventually won 5-3.
PSC scored their three runs on nine hits. The Bobcats committed their first two errors of the year in the game.
Castillo, Arche, and Eubank each had two hits in the loss with Castillo driving in two RBIs.
Bryan Duncan (Seattle, Wash.) went the distance on the mound and suffered the loss. Duncan gave up just four hits and three earned runs. Duncan, now 3-1 on the season, struck out seven.
GAME ONE BOX SCORE
Game Two Action
Ottawa jumped on the 'Cats in the bottom of the first by scoring three runs.
In the second inning, Voigt got on base and later scored on a Fredrickson double to make it 3-1. Ottawa came back to make it 4-1 in the bottom of the inning.
Castillo started the top of the third with a triple and later scored on Voigt's single to cut it to 4-2. Neither team would score again until Ottawa added one more run in the bottom of the sixth.
The Braves held the Bobcats to just two runs on six hits. PSC did not commit any errors in the game.
Fredrickson had two hits and one RBI to lead Peru State.
Philip Lial (Las Vegas, Nev.) pitched a complete game giving up nine hits and five earned runs. Lial, now 2-1 on the season, struck out three Braves.
GAME TWO BOX SCORE
Upcoming Games
The Bobcats will look to get their winning streak started again on Tuesday, as they will host the Prairie Wolves of Nebraska Wesleyan University. The teams will play one nine-inning game.
Then, on Wednesday, Peru State will travel to Lincoln to face the Prairie Wolves on their home turf for another nine-inning contest. The games will start at 3 p.m. each day.
On St. Patrick's Day, the Bobcats will face their first Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) action. PSC will travel to Lamoni, Iowa, to take on the Graceland University YellowJackets in a double header scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
The following Wednesday, March 21, the 'Cats will host Evangel University in another HAAC double header beginning at 1 p.m.
