(Peru, Neb.) – The 2012 season started just the way the Peru State College (PSC) Bobcat softball team wanted. On a very cool day at the Centennial Complex Field, the 'Cats earned two victories over their former conference foes; Haskell Indian Nations University (HINU), by the scores of 4-0 and 4-1.
It was the season opener for both teams. Peru State starts the season 2-0 and Haskell begins their 2012 campaign 0-2.
Game 1 Action
The Bobcats held the Fighting Indians scoreless throughout the first game while scoring single runs themselves in four different innings.
Peru State struck first in the bottom of the first inning.
Trista Hutchings (Cambridge, Ontario, Canada) reached base on a Haskell error. Hutchings went to second on a sacrifice bunt by
Miranda Lyndes (Peyton, Colo.). Following a second Bobcat out,
Devin Choate (Beatrice) singled to right driving in Hutchings giving PSC their first run of the year.
The 'Cats added another run in the bottom of the third.
Emily Maresh (Central City) was hit by a pitch and went to first.
Abbie Moser (Lincoln) came in as a pinch runner for Maresh and eventually went to second on a stolen base following the first PSC out. Another Bobcat out was followed by a
Toni Moffatt (Morden, Manitoba, Canada) singled to left-center getting an RBI as Moser scored. At the end of three, Peru State was up 2-0.
Additional cushion run was added in the bottom of the fourth.
Devon Massengale (Elkhorn) singled up the middle to start the inning. Massengale went to second with a stolen base. Following a PSC strikeout, Massengale advanced to third on a Haskell wild pitch. Another Bobcat out was followed by another Haskell wild pitch on which Massengale scored. After four complete innings, PSC led Haskell 3-0.
Peru State added one more run in the bottom of the sixth. Massengale got her third hit of the game singling thru the hole at second base.
Tesla Oldfield (Nebraska City) came in as a pinch runner for Massengale and went to second on a
Stephanie Holdsworth (Palmyra) bunt single. Following a Haskell double play, Oldfield stole third base and came home on a Lyndes' single to left.
Game 1 Statistics
The Bobcats finished the game with four runs on ten hits and committed no errors. Haskell finished with no runs on four hits and committed two errors.
Massengale finished the game with three hits while Choate and Holdsworth each had two. Lyndes, Choate, and Moffatt each had one RBI.
Bobcat senior pitcher
Lyndsay Drumm (Bennington) pitched a complete game shutout giving up only four hits. Drumm struck out six in her first outing of the year.
GAME ONE BOX SCORE
Game 2 Action
Neither team scored in the first two innings as it appeared it would be a pitcher's duel at that point.
After holding the Fighting Indians scoreless in the top of the third, the Bobcats were able to put some runs across in the bottom of the inning.
Brittany Hoock (Elkhorn) reached first on a walk and went to second on a single by
Alexa Johnson (Fremont) to shallow left-center.
Casee Ford (Fort Collins, Colo.) reached first on a fielder's choice and the bases were loaded as HINU was not able get an out on the play. Following the first PSC out, Lyndes laid down a sacrifice bunt and Hoock scored with Johnson and Ford moving up.
Kristen Bodyk (Paris, Ontario, Canada) then singled to shallow right-center driving in Johnson and Ford. At the end of the third inning, PSC held a 3-0 advantage.
Neither team would score in the next two innings. Haskell would get its first run of the 2012 season in the top of the sixth as they cut into the Bobcat lead at 3-1.
In the bottom of the sixth, Choate took the first pitch she saw from Haskell and homered over the deep right-center fence making it 4-1 Peru State. For Choate, this was her first home run in a Bobcat uniform and it was the first of the season for PSC.
The 4-1 lead would hold up in the top of the seventh as the 'Cats grabbed their second win of the year.
Game 2 Statistics
PSC finished game two with four runs on just three hits and committed no errors. HINU managed one run on five hits and did not commit any errors.
Bodyk, Choate, and Johnson garnered the only Bobcat hits. Bodyk had two RBIs while Choate and Lyndes each getting one RBI.
Massengale earned her first win of the season as she had a complete game. After scattering five hits, Massengale gave up one earned run. In the effort, Massengale struck out 12 Haskell batters, tying a single-game mark set by Melanie Tramp in 1999 against Midland Lutheran.
GAME TWO BOX SCORE
Upcoming Games
The Bobcats are scheduled to host another double header against the University of St. Mary on Sunday, March 4, at 1 p.m. at the Centennial Complex Field.
Then, on Monday, Peru State will fly to Arizona and will compete in the Tucson Invitational Games during Spring Break. PSC will have 14 games to play in five days.
