(Peru, Neb.) – The 2012 Peru State College (PSC) Bobcat softball season ended at the hands of the Baker University (BU) Wildcats.
During the quarterfinals of the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) post-season tourney, the Bobcats took game one of the best-of-three series from Baker by a score of 5-4. The second game, which started on Friday night, was postponed due to rain and was resumed on Saturday. Baker had a 5-1 lead in the fourth inning of the game and that is how it ended on Saturday forcing a third game.
In the rubber game, the Wildcats got two unearned runs and won 2-0 to advance to the HAAC's double elimination tournament to be held in Olathe, Kan., on May 4 and 5.
Peru State finished the year 30-25. Friday night's win gave Bobcat head coach
Mark Mathews his 500
th win of his career, all of which have been at PSC.
Game One Action
BU struck first with one run in the bottom of the first inning to take the early 1-0 lead.
However, the Bobcats came roaring back in the top of the second inning to score all of their runs and then held on to win.
In the second,
Emily Maresh (Central City) singled thru the hole at shortstop.
Devin Choate (Beatrice) was up next and hit a two-run home run to deep left on the first pitch she saw to put PSC up 2-1.
Devon Massengale (Elkhorn) singled to shallow right and went to second when
Toni Moffatt (Morden, Manitoba, Canada) reached base on a Baker error. Following the next two outs,
Brittany Hoock (Elkhorn) doubled to deep left-center driving in both Massengale and Moffatt to make it 4-1 PSC.
Stephanie Holdsworth (Bennet) reached base on a second Wildcat error and Hoock went to third.
Kristen Bodyk (Paris, Ontario, Canada) reach on a walk to load the bases and then Maresh was hit by a pitch to bring home Hoock giving PSC a 5-1 advantage.
The next three innings were scoreless before Baker added two in the bottom of the fifth. Then, in the seventh, Baker added one more run, but it was not enough as PSC captured game one 5-4.
Hoock, Maresh, Choate, Massengale, and Moffatt each had one hit with Hoock and Choate each providing two RBI.
Massengale threw a complete game going seven innings while allowing five hits, four runs – three earned, and striking out four. For Massengale, it was her 12
th win of the season. The twelve wins ties her for 11
th in single season victories with Laura Kjar (2007) and Jennifer Slattery (1995). The four strikeouts gives Massengale 114 for the year, good enough for third on the all-time single season charts behind Melanie Tramp (126 in 1999) and Tabitha Foster (123 in 2007). For her two-year career, Massengale has 208 total K's and is now third on the all-time chart behind Erin O'Grady and Foster. O'Grady had 285 strikeouts from 1987-90 while Foster and 272 in 2004-07.
GAME ONE BOX SCORE
Game Two Action
Baker scored two in the top of the first of the second game, which would prove to be all they would need.
The Bobcats did score one in the bottom of the first to cut it to 2-1. Hoock reached on a walk and after the first out of the inning, Bodyk doubled to deep right-center driving in Hoock. Unfortunately, Bodyk was thrown out at third trying to stretch it on the thrown home.
The Wildcats added another run in the second and two more in the third to take a 5-1 lead. The game was suspended in the fourth as the rain came. When it was resumed, the two pitchers only allowed one more hit between them with Baker getting the second game win.
Bodyk, Massengale and
Tesla Oldfield (Nebraska City) each had one hit with Bodyk getting the lone RBI.
Lyndsay Drumm (Bennington) took the loss for PSC. Drumm threw a complete game and scattered nine hits, gave up five runs – all earned, and struck out two. Drumm finished the season with an 8-9 record and recorded one save.
Drumm finishes her four-year career tied for tenth on the all-time charts with 24 wins with former teammate Nicole Goodrich who pitched in 2008-10. In addition, her 130 career strikeouts ranks her ninth on the all-time charts, just ahead of Jennifer Slattery who pitched in 1993-96.
GAME TWO BOX SCORE
Game Three Action
It was a pitcher's duel in the deciding game, but Baker was able to score two runs in the bottom of the first and that was all they needed. Both runs were unearned as the Wildcats were aided by an error.
Only Bodyk was able to touch the dominant Wildcat pitcher for one hit.
Massengale was on the mound for PSC and suffered the loss. Massengale scattered six hits and gave up no earned runs in the loss.
GAME THREE BOX SCORE
