On one of the best days this spring, the Peru State Bobcat baseball team split a Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) double header with MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU) on Friday at the Centennial Complex Field. The second day of the four-game series was postponed until Monday, April 1, due to the rain that arrived overnight.
Both games were tight with the Pioneers taking the first game in extra innings 6-5 in eight. In the second game, Peru State came back to win it in the bottom of the seventh 4-3.
After the split, the Bobcats are now 10-11 overall and 4-4 in the HAAC. Western Division opponents MNU is now 13-11 overall and 6-2 in conference play.
Game One Action
After the Pioneers scored a run in the top of the first, Peru State bounced back in the bottom half of the inning. After the first out,
Tyler Cherin (Seattle, Wash.) and
Derek Voigt (Auburn, Wash.) were both hit by pitches.
Randy Santiesteban (Hialeah, Fla.) singled up the middle scoring Cherin to tie the score at 1-1. After a strikeout,
Derrick Davis (Orange Park, Fla.) tripled to deep left, driving in Voigt and Santiesteban, putting the 'Cats up 3-1.
The Pioneers could not score in the top of the second, but Peru State would add one in the bottom of the inning. After the first out,
Ronald Tanner (Havertown, Pa.) homered over the left field fence on a 3-2 count, making it 4-1 Peru State.
MNU would cut the score to 4-2 in the top of the third. Neither team would score again until the top of the fifth when the Pioneers would tie it at 4-4. In the top of the sixth, MNU would score one to go ahead at 5-4.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Bobcats would tie the game, forcing extra innings. After the first out, Santiesteban singled thru the hole at shortstop. Phil Lial
(Las Vegas, Nev.) was hit by a pitch with Santiesteban advancing to second. Santiesteban was later forced out as Davis reached first on the fielder's choice.
Jake Wright (Freeport, Fla.) doubled to left-center driving in
Dan McGonigle (Liberty, Mo.) who had come in to pinch run for Lial. Two Bobcats were left on base when the next batter struck out.
In the top of the eighth, MNU plated one to go up 6-5. In the bottom of the inning, Peru State could not put together a scoring threat and the Pioneers eventually won the first game.
MNU scored their six runs on 11 hits and committed no errors. The Bobcats scored their five runs on eight hits and committed four errors.
Santiesteban went three of four with one RBI and one run to lead the Bobcat batters.
Aubrey Dezarn (Las Vegas, Nev.) started on the mound and threw five and one-third innings. Dezarn gave up seven hits, five runs – four earned and struck out five.
Danny Borst (Moreno Valley, Calif.) relieved Dezarn and pitched the final two and two-thirds innings and suffered the loss. Borst gave up four hits, one earned run, and struck out one.
GAME ONE BOX SCORE
Game Two Action
After MNU scored one in the top of the first, it was a pitcher's duel for the next four innings.
In the bottom of the fifth, Peru State scored two runs to take the lead. Dezarn reached on a walk and advanced to third on a wild Pioneer throw. Voigt singled up the middle scoring Dezarn. Santiesteban reached first on the fielder's choice with Voigt being forced out at second. Santiesteban was then caught stealing, but Lial hit a home run over the left field fence on a 2-0 count and the 'Cats led 2-1.
A Pioneer home run in the top of the sixth tied the game at 2-2. Peru State countered in the bottom of the inning with a home run by Wright to regain the lead at 3-2.
MNU tied it in the top of the seventh at 3-3. After two outs, it looked like the game would go into extra innings as well. But, Santiesteban doubled down the left field line and then Lial was issued an intentional walk.
Ryan Grabowski (Omaha) stepped to the plate and singled down the right field line to drive in the winning run.
Peru State managed four runs on ten hits and did not commit any errors. MNU had three runs on six hits and committed two errors.
Lial, Grabowski, and Wright each had two hits and one RBI in the win.
Marshall Klontz (Auburn, Wash.) threw a complete game for the win. Klontz pitched seven innings, giving up six hits, three earned runs and struck out five.
GAME TWO BOX SCORE
Upcoming Games
With the postponement, the Bobcats will play eight HAAC games next week.
On Monday, Peru State will make up the pair of games with MNU at home beginning at 1 p.m.
Then, on Tuesday, the Bobcats will host the Central Methodist University Eagles in HAAC cross-over division double header, also beginning at 1 p.m.
On Saturday and Sunday, Peru State will be in Atchison, Kan., facing the Benedictine College Ravens in a Western Division match-up. The four-game series will begin at 1 p.m. each day.
