(Peru, Neb.) – Unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities in the first game, the Peru State College (PSC) Bobcat softball team took advantage of the opportunities in the nightcap to gain a split at Culver-Stockton College (C-SC) on Wednesday.
 
The Bobcats lost the first game 1-0, but pounded the Wildcats in six innings in game two, 10-2.
 
With the split, the Bobcats are 7-7 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) and presently sit sixth in the standings.  With four conference games remaining, PSC could be as high as the second seed or as low as the eighth seed in the post-season tournament, if everything fell in the right order for the 'Cats.  Overall, Peru State is 25-19.
 
Culver-Stockton kept their post-season hopes alive with the split as the Wildcats are 4-10 in the conference and 13-20 on the entire season.
 
Game One Action
 
For the most part, it was a pitcher's duel in the first game.  While PSC had runners in scoring position three different times, the 'Cats were unable to capitalize.
 
The Wildcats were able to score one in the bottom of the third, which proved to be the only run C-SC would need to take the 1-0 win.
 
Peru State could manage only three hits with Tesla Oldfield (Nebraska City), Stephanie Holdsworth (Bennet), and Alexa Johnson (Fremont) each having one.
 
Devon Massengale (Elkhorn) pitched a good game for PSC, but suffered the loss to fall to 9-7 on the year.  Massengale scattered four hits, gave up one earned run, and struck out five batters.  With the five K's, Massengale tied her last year strikeout mark, which puts her in a three-way tie for fifth in the single-season mark with 94.

GAME ONE BOX SCORE
 
Game Two Action
 
The second game started like the first with neither team scoring in the first two innings. 
 
In the top of the third, after the first out of the inning, Casee Ford (Fort Collins, Colo.) singled and then stole second.  Holdsworth followed with a single driving in Ford.  While the 'Cats still had base runners, they were not able to push across any other runs.
 
Culver-Stockton came back to take the lead in the bottom of the inning when they scored two runs.  That would be the only lead C-SC would have as the 'Cats shut them out the rest of the way.
 
Peru State would regain the lead in the top of the fourth and then score in each of the remaining innings.
 
In the fourth, Brittany Hoock (Elkhorn) singled, but was forced out at second when Devin Choate (Beatrice) reached on a fielder's choice.  Kristen Bodyk (Paris, Ontario, Canada) followed with a double driving in Choate.  Emily Maresh (Central City) then reached on an error and Bodyk went to third.  On a ground out, Maresh advanced to second.  Ford came to bat and reached on a Wildcat error which allowed both Bodyk and Maresh to score making it 4-2 PSC.
 
In the fifth, Peru State added to its lead.  After the first out of the inning on a PSC base runner trying to steal second, Miranda Lyndes (Peyton, Colo.) reached on another C-SC error.  Lyndes went to second on a ground out and later came home when Choate doubled.  Going into the bottom of the fifth, PSC led 5-2.
 
The Bobcats would put away the game in the top of the sixth.  Maresh singled to start things off and Johnson reached on an error on an attempted sacrifice bunt with Maresh advancing to second.  Ford followed with a single to load the bases.  Holdsworth reached on a fielder's choice as Maresh was thrown out at home, still keeping the bases loaded.  Amelia Allington (Ashland) came in as a pinch hitter and singled driving in Johnson for the first run of the inning and Ford scored on a throwing error.  With runners on second and third, Abbie Moser (Lincoln) came in and doubled getting two RBI as Maresh and Oldfield – back in as a runner for Allington – were able to score.  Hoock followed with a single and Moser went to third.  Choate then grounded out but Moser was able to score giving the 'Cats a 10-2 lead.
 
Peru State put down the Wildcats one-two-three in the bottom of the inning and the game was called due to the eight-run rule.
 
Hoock and Ford each had two hits while Choate and Moser each had two RBI to lead the PSC hitting.
 
Lyndsay Drumm (Bennington) threw a complete game winning her seventh game of the season.  In the six inning, Drumm scattered four hits, gave up two runs – both earned, and struck out one.  With the win, Drumm now has 23 for her career, which ties her for tenth all-time with Laura Kjar, who pitched for PSC in 2006-08.

GAME TWO BOX SCORE
 
Upcoming Games
 
On Wednesday, the Bobcats will host their former Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) rival, the Bellevue University Bruins.  Game time for the non-conference double header is 3 p.m.
 
The 'Cats are on the road for their final three dates of the regular season.
 
On Saturday, PSC will be in Atchison, Kan., to face HAAC foe, Benedictine College.  Game time for the double header is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
Hastings College will be the Bobcats' opponent on Sunday.  The double header in Hastings will begin at 1 p.m.
 
Then, on Tuesday, April 24, PSC will play their final regular season HAAC games in Lamoni, Iowa, making games, which were previously rained out.  This double header will start at 4 p.m.
 
The HAAC post-season tournament will begin on April 27 with sites and opponents to be determined at the end of the regular season play.