Maybe it was too much Florida Georgia Line or perhaps the YellowJackets of Graceland University were more ready to play. However, it certainly was not the outcome the Peru State Bobcat softball team expected and/or wanted on its Parents/Senior Day.
The YellowJackets swept an important conference double header with Peru State by winning the first game 8-6 and then taking the second game 3-1.
Graceland improved to 4-6 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) and 8-16 overall. Presently, the YellowJackets are eighth in the ten-team league. Peru State fell to 6-6 in the HAAC and 11-21 overall. The Bobcats are sixth in the HAAC standings with the top eight teams making post-season play.
Game One Action
The Bobcats got on the board in the bottom of the first inning to take an early lead. After an opening strikeout,
Tesla Oldfield (Nebraska City) reached first on a walk. After another strikeout for the second out,
Emily Maresh (Central City) tripled to deep right that drove in Oldfield. Maresh would later score on a wild throw and the Peru State led 2-0.
The 'Cats gave up a chance to break the game open in the bottom of the second as they left the bases loaded.
Graceland would get on the board in the top of the fourth as they plated three runs on three hits and were helped by a Bobcat error. The YellowJackets added two more in the top of the fifth to make it 5-2 Graceland. In the top of the sixth, Graceland would add two more to put the score at 7-2 in their favor.
In the bottom of the sixth, the 'Cats would get one run back. After the first out,
Toni Moffatt (Morden, Manitoba, Canada) tripled to deep left-center. After another out,
Toni Blackwell (Papillion) singled to the infield scoring Moffatt to make it 7-3.
Graceland would add one run, making it 8-3 before Peru State batted in the bottom of the seventh.
Traci Bohlmeyer (Fairbury) singled up the middle to start the inning.
Miranda Lyndes (Peyton, Colo.), pinch-hitting for Oldfield, tripled over the right field fence, driving in Bohlmeyer to make it 8-4. Oldfield came back in to run for Lyndes. After a snow cone out that could have gone through the middle, Maresh doubled to right field with Oldfield scoring to cut the lead to 8-5. Maresh went to third on a passed ball and later came home on Moffatt's single up the middle, making it 8-6.
Devon Massengale (Elkhorn) came in to pinch hit and singled up the middle with Moffatt advancing to second. Blackwell reached with a walk to load the bases, but the next Bobcat batter grounded into a double play to end the game.
The YellowJackets scored their eight runs on 15 hits and committed one error. Peru State scored their six runs on ten hits and committed three errors.
Maresh and Moffatt both went two for four with Maresh driving in two RBI and Moffatt adding one.
Lauren Johnson (Seward) started on the mound and suffered the loss. Johnson pitched five and two-thirds innings, giving up 13 hits, seven runs – six earned, and struck out four.
Trista Hutchings (Cambridge, Ontario, Canada) threw the final one and one-third innings. Hutchings gave up two hits and one earned run.
GAME ONE BOX SCORE
Game Two Action
Neither team scored in the first two innings. In the top of the third, Graceland scored two to take the lead.
After neither team would score in the fourth nor fifth, the YellowJackets would add one in the top of the sixth to make it 3-0.
In the bottom of the sixth, Peru State would finally get things going. Bohlmeyer singled to shallow center and then went to second with a stolen base. After two outs, Maresh singled to drive in Bohlmeyer. Maresh went to second on the throw home and then went to third with a stolen base. However, Maresh was stranded there as the next batter struck out. At the end of six, Graceland still led 3-1, which would eventually prove to be the final margin of victory.
Graceland scored their three runs on five hits and committed two errors. The Bobcats scored their lone run on just three hits and committed no errors.
Bohlmeyer, Oldfield, and Maresh were the only Bobcats with a hit with Maresh driving in the lone RBI.
Massengale threw the complete seven innings and suffered the loss. Massengale gave up five hits, three earned runs, and struck out four.
GAME TWO BOX SCORE
Upcoming Games
Peru State was to have played the College of St. Mary in Omaha on Sunday. However, an overnight rainstorm forced cancellation of that double header.
The Bobcats still have plenty of ball games scheduled for the upcoming week. On Tuesday, the 'Cats will travel to the University of St. Mary in Leavenworth, Kan., for a double header starting at 3 p.m. with the Spires.
Thursday, April 18, Peru State will be back in conference play as they head to Olathe, Kan., to face the MidAmerica Nazarene University Pioneers. The double header with the league's second-best team with a 7-3 mark is 4 p.m.
Next Saturday, April 20, the 'Cats will host the ninth-place team in the HAAC, the Benedictine College Ravens. The 3-5 Ravens and Peru State will tangle in a double header scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
The following Monday, the Bobcats will host their final HAAC opponent, the Missouri Valley College Vikings in a double header scheduled to being at 3 p.m. Currently, the Vikings are 4-4 in the HAAC.
