(Peru, Neb.) – With a two-game sweep of the visiting Missouri Valley College Vikings on Saturday, the Peru State Bobcat baseball team won the Western Division of the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC).
The 'Cats topped the Vikings 6-0 and 14-1 to improve to 26-15 overall and 18-8 in the HAAC. Peru State has now won 13 straight in a row.
Missouri Valley fell to 2-24 in the HAAC and 3-33 overall.
By winning the Western Division, the Bobcats secured the second seed in the upcoming HAAC tournament that will begin on Wednesday in St. Joseph, Mo.
Game One Action
Peru State scored its first run in the bottom of the first inning. After the first out, Ronnie Tanner
(Havertown, Pa.) singled up the middle and later went to second with a stolen base. On a fly-ball out, Tanner advanced to third.
Randy Santiesteban (Hialeah, Fla.) singled shallow down the left field line to drive in Tanner. At the end of one, the 'Cats led 1-0.
The Bobcats would add one in the bottom of the fourth inning. After the first two outs,
Derrick Davis (Orange Park, Fla.) doubled to deep center.
Jake Wright (Freeport, Fla.) singled to shallow right with Davis advancing to third.
Ryan Grabowski (Omaha) hit a shot off the pitcher that scored Davis and Peru State led 2-0 after four complete innings.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Bobcats did their biggest damage. Phil Lial
(Las Vegas, Nev.) homered over the center field fence on a 0-0 count to make it 3-0. After an out, Wright doubled to left-center with
George Palko (Kent, Wash.) coming in to run for Wright. Grabowski doubled to deep left, driving in Palko, to give the 'Cats a 4-0 advantage. After a pitching change,
Tyler Cherin (Seattle, Wash.) singled up the middle with Grabowski staying at second. Grabowski and Cherin completed a double steal to advance and Grabowski would score on a wild Viking throw to put Peru State on top 5-0. Cherin moved to third in the process.
Tyler Croushorn (Omaha) singled up the middle to make 6-0 'Cats, driving in Cherin, which would prove to be the final score.
The Bobcats scored their six runs on 11 hits and did not commit an error.
Lial, Wright, and Grabowski each had two hits to lead Peru State with Grabowski being credited with two RBI.
Tim Patterson
(Valdosta, Ga.) pitched six innings to earn his fifth win of the season against just one loss. Patterson scattered five hits and struck out one while shutting out the Vikings.
Derek Voigt (Auburn, Wash.) threw the final inning in relief of Patterson. Voigt did not give up any hits in his outing.
GAME ONE BOX SCORE
Game Two Action
In the bottom of the first, the Bobcats started with a single to shallow left by Croushorn. Tanner singled thru the hole at second base with Croushorn advancing to third. Voigt hit a sacrifice fly to right that was deep enough to score Croushorn, giving Peru State a 1-0 lead.
In the third, the 'Cats would add all the runs they really needed for the second game win. Cherin reached on a walk. After an out, Tanner reached first on a fielder's choice with Cherin advancing to second. Voigt would then reach on a fielder's choice, but Tanner was out at second, with Cherin going to third. Then, Voigt stole second base. Santiesteban singled to shallow left, driving in both Cherin and Voigt to make it 3-0. Lial doubled down the right field line with Santiesteban advancing to third. Davis singled thru the hole at second base and drove in the base runners, putting the score at 5-0 Peru State.
Missouri Valley would score their lone run of the day in the top of the fourth to cut the lead to 5-1.
Grabowski led off the bottom of the fourth with a walk and went to second when Cherin laid down a sacrifice bunt. Croushorn doubled to deep right with Grabowski moving to third. On a groundout, Grabowski scored and Croushorn went to third. Croushorn would score when Voigt singled shallow down the right field line. At the end of four, the 'Cats led 7-1.
In the bottom of the sixth, Peru State would add one more run. Grabowski singled up the middle and went to second when Cherin reached on a walk. After a pitching replacement, Croushorn doubled to deep center scoring Grabowski with Cherin advancing to third. At the end of six, the Bobcats led 8-1.
While the game was scheduled to go nine innings, the 'Cats would score enough runs in the bottom of the seventh to finish it due to the mercy rule.
Davis doubled to left-center with
Dan McGonigle (Blue Springs) coming in to run for Davis. Wright hit a two-run home run over the left field fence on a 1-0 count, making it 10-1 Peru State. After another pitching change, Grabowski singled to second. Pat Bramhall
(Vermillion, Kan.), pinch hitting for Cherin, reached on a walk with Grabowski advancing to second. Croushorn singled shallow down the left field line to load the bases. The game would eventually end as Tanner hit a grand slam over the left field fence on a 2-1 count, giving the Bobcats the 14-1 win.
Peru State scored its 14 runs on 14 hits and committed three errors. The Vikings scored their one run on three hits and did not commit any errors.
Croushorn was four for five to lead Peru State. Croushorn scored three runs and had one RBI. Tanner, Davis, and Grabowski each had two hits with Tanner having five RBI in the game. Voigt, Santiesteban, Davis, and Wright each had two RBI.
Tanner DeGafferelly (Freeport, Fla.) threw a complete game for his first win as a Bobcat. DeGafferelly gave up three hits and one earned run.
GAME TWO BOX SCORE
Upcoming Tournament Action
With the win and the Western Division title, unofficially, Peru State is the second seed in the upcoming HAAC post-season tournament. The Bobcats will play the Avila University Eagles at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1, beginning at 3:30 p.m. The entire tournament bracket is not yet available.
The tournament is a double elimination format and lasts through Saturday, May 4. All games will be played at the Phil Welch Stadium in St. Joseph, Mo.
