The Peru State Bobcat softball team split a double header with the visiting Benedictine College Ravens on Saturday at the Centennial Complex Softball Field in Peru.
The 'Cats took the first game 2-1 while Benedictine won game two 4-2. Peru State is now 12-22 overall, but more importantly, are 7-7 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC), which is good for fifth place in the ten-team league. The Ravens are 18-18 overall and 5-9 in the HAAC, presently in seventh place.
At the end of the regular season on April 27, the top eight teams will advance to a double elimination tournament format to be held at the Blue Valley Rec Complex in Overland Park, Kansas. The dates of the tournament are scheduled for May 3 and 4.
Both pitchers in game one pretty much controlled the game with just three runs being scored.
Peru State scored first in the bottom of their first inning. After the first two outs,
Kristen Bodyk (Paris, Ontario, Canada) homered over the center field fence on a 0-0 count to give the 'Cats a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the third, Benedictine scored its only run to tie it at 1-1.
Then, in the fifth inning, the Bobcats would get what would be the winning run of the game. After the first out, Bodyk doubled to deep left.
Emily Maresh (Central City) moved Bodyk to third with a single down the left field line.
Abbie Moser (Lincoln) reached first on a fielder's choice that forced out Maresh, but Bodyk was able to score to make it 2-1 Peru State.
The 'Cats scored their two runs on just three hits and committed four errors. Benedictine scored its lone run on four hits while committing one error.
Bodyk went two for three, scoring both Bobcat runs, and added one RBI. Moser was credited for the RBI on her fielder's choice.
Lauren Johnson (Seward) won her eighth game of the season by throwing a complete game seven innings. Johnson scattered four hits, gave up one unearned run, and struck out three.
GAME ONE BOX SCORE
Game Two Action
The Bobcats got on the board first again in the second game. In the bottom of the first, after the first out,
Tesla Oldfield (Nebraska City) singled to shallow center, but was thrown out trying to advance to second. Bodyk then stepped to the plate and proceeded to hit her second home run of the day, this one on a 1-1 count over the left field fence. After one complete inning, the 'Cats led 1-0.
Benedictine would knot the game at 1-1 in the top of the third. The Ravens would later go ahead 2-1, by adding a run in the top of the fifth.
In the bottom of the sixth,
Traci Bohlmeyer (Fairbury) singled to the pitcher's mound, but was forced out at second when Oldfield reached base on a fielder's choice. On a ground out, Oldfield went to second. Maresh then singled shallow down the right field line, but is deep enough to score Oldfield to tie the game at 2-2.
The ballgame would go into extra innings, as the score was 2-2 after seven. The Ravens came up with two in the top of the eighth and Peru State could not match it in the bottom half of the inning, giving the win to Benedictine 4-2.
Benedictine scored its four runs on ten hits and committed two errors. The 'Cats scored two runs on six hits and had four more errors in the second game.
Bohlmeyer was two for four to lead the Bobcat hitters while Bodyk and Maresh each had one RBI.
Trista Hutchings (Cambridge, Ontario, Canada) started the game and threw the first five innings, giving up three hits, one earned run, and six strikeouts.
Devon Massengale (Elkhorn) pitched the final three innings and was tagged for the loss. Massengale gave up six hits, two runs – both earned, and struck out three.
GAME TWO BOX SCORE
Career Updates
With her two home runs, Bodyk has moved up to seventh on the all-time Bobcat career records with 13 as she passed Jen Siedlik who played from 2006-09. In addition, with her double, Bodyk is now tied for tenth with 29 doubles, along with Nicole Mercer, who also played from 2006-09.
Upcoming Games
Weather permitting; the Bobcats will play a pair of non-conference double headers on Monday and Tuesday. Monday, Peru State will travel to Lincoln to face the Prairie Wolves of Nebraska Wesleyan University with the double header scheduled to start at 5 p.m. Then, on Tuesday, the Bobcats will face former conference foes, the Bellevue University Bruins, in Bellevue, beginning at 3 p.m.
On Friday and Saturday, the 'Cats will finish their regular-season HAAC play. Friday will be a home double header as Peru State hosts the Missouri Valley College Vikings beginning at 2 p.m. Then, on Saturday, the Bobcats will be on the road to take on the MidAmerica Nazarene University Pioneers with the double header in Olathe, Kansas, scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
The HAAC double headers will be key to whether or not Peru State makes the post-season tournament on May 3 and 4. It would appear they would be in the tournament at this time; however, wins in remaining HAAC play would assure them of a higher seed for the double elimination tournament.
