(Peru, Neb.) – Following a conference sweep on Saturday, the Peru State College (PSC) Bobcat softball team split a pair of non-conference games at Hastings College.
 
The Bobcats lost the first game to Hastings 11-3, but came back to trample the Broncos 13-1 in the second game of the double header.
 
With the split, Peru State is 28-22 on the year with only a Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) double header remaining on Tuesday.
 
Game One Action
 
The Bobcats did score first in the initial game of the double header.  Following the first out of the inning, Miranda Lyndes (Peyton, Colo.) was issued a walk.  Another out followed before Emily Maresh (Central City) singled advancing Lyndes to second.  Another single by Devin Choate (Beatrice) loaded the bases.  Toni Moffatt (Morden, Manitoba, Canada) doubled driving in Lyndes, but Maresh was out at third to end the top half of the first with PSC leading 1-0.  
Hastings jumped on the 'Cats for three in their half of the first to take a 3-1 lead and then added four more in the second to go up 7-1.  After a scoreless third, the Broncos added three more to take a 10-1 advantage.
 
In the top of the fifth, the Bobcats did keep the game alive by adding two more runs.  After an out, Kristen Bodyk (Paris, Ontario, Canada) singled and came home when Maresh homered to make it 10-3.  Two more hits and base runners got on board for PSC, but the Bobcats were unable to capitalize.  
In the bottom of the inning, Hastings ended the game by adding a run and the first game was called due to the eight-run rule with the Broncos winning 11-3.
 
Maresh and Devon Massengale (Elkhorn) each had two hits with Maresh getting two RBI.
 
Danae Disney (Blue Springs) pitched four and two-thirds innings and suffered the loss in her toughest loss of the year.   Disney gave up 12 hits, 11 runs – eight earned, and struck out two.  Massengale came in to relieve Disney, who was accountable for those on base, and gave up two hits.

GAME ONE BOX SCORE
 
Game Two Action
 
Neither team scored in the first inning, but the Bobcats scored in each of the next five innings, before Hastings even got on the board.
 
In the second, Massengale singled and went to second on a ground out.  Massengale later went to third on another ground out and was brought home when Brittany Hoock (Elkhorn) hit a single.  Hoock stole second and was driven home when Toni Blackwell (Papillion) doubled.  That would prove to be the end of the scoring in the inning, but PSC led 2-0.  In the third, the Bobcats got one run on Maresh's second homer of the day to go up 3-0.  PSC had other opportunities to score, but could not push any across.
 
Hoock singled to start the fourth, but was forced out at second as Blackwell reached on a fielder's choice.  Maresh was hit by a pitch and Blackwell advanced to second.  Choate followed with a double driving in Blackwell.  At the end of three and one-half innings, PSC was up 4-0.  
After the first out in the fifth, Lyndes walked and went to second when Tesla Oldfield (Nebraska City) singled.  Hoock came up and hit a single that loaded the bases.  Blackwell reached on a fielder's choice that drove in Lyndes, but Oldfield was out at second.  Bodyk singled driving in Hoock and Blackwell for PSC's three runs in the inning.  Now the 'Cats led 7-0.
 
A huge sixth inning put the game out of reach for the Broncos as Peru State scored six to go up 13-0.  Moffattt started things off with a single and went to second on a sacrifice fly by Massengale.  Lyndes doubled driving in Moffattt.  Oldfield also had a fly ball out, but it allowed Lyndes to go to third.  Following a walk to Hoock, Blackwell singled, driving in Lyndes. Bodyk followed with a single to load the bases.  Then, Maresh was again hit by a pitch to drive in Hoock.  Choate singled with Blackwell scoring.  Moffattt reached on an error and two more scored.  In the inning, the Bobcats had scored six runs on five hits and were aided by one Bronco error.
 
Hastings did salvage a run in the bottom of the inning, but it was not enough as the game ended by the eight-run rule with PSC winning 13-1.

Hoock and Bodyk each had three hits, while Blackwell, Choate, and Moffattt each had two hits.  Blackwell was credited with three RBI while Bodyk, Maresh, Choate, and Moffattt each had two.
 
Lauren Johnson (Seward) threw a complete game for PSC and improved to 5-3 on the year.  Johnson gave up seven hits and just one earned run while striking out three Bronco batters.

GAME TWO BOX SCORE
 
Upcoming Games
 
On Tuesday the Bobcats are travelling to Lamoni, Iowa, to face the Graceland University Yellowjackets in the final Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) regular season double header.  Game time is 4 p.m. 
 
This double header will determine, not only PSC's place in the post-season tournament, but Graceland's as well.  According to HAAC officials, PSC could be as high as third seed with a sweep of Graceland and beating them by 16 runs.  At the worst, the Bobcats would finish fifth in the HAAC, meaning they would be on the road on Friday for the post-season tourney.
 
Final pairing will be determined following Tuesday's conclusion of play.