(Peru, Neb.) – Coming off a four-game winning streak, the Peru State Bobcat softball team found their bats to be very cold in the first three games on their trip to Missouri.  However, in the second game against Evangel University, the 'Cats heated up and won 5-3.
 
Against Central Methodist on Tuesday, Peru State dropped both contests 8-0 in five innings.  In the first game against Evangel, the Bobcats lost 7-0.
 
Peru State's record now stands at 7-17 overall and the Bobcats are 5-3 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.
 
Central Methodist Game One Action
 
Peru State could only manage one hit in the first game and it was a single by Emily Maresh (Central City). 
 
CMU scored their eight runs on 14 hits and committed no errors.
 
Lauren Johnson (Seward) pitched four and two-thirds innings in the loss.  Johnson gave up 14 hits, eight runs – six earned, and struck out one.

CMU GAME ONE BOX SCORE
 
Central Methodist Game Two Action
 
The second game was not much better for Peru State as the Eagles' pitcher held them to just two hits.  Tesla Oldfield (Nebraska City) and Abbie Moser (Lincoln) managed to get the hits for the Bobcats.
 
The Eagles scored their eight runs on 11 hits to take the sweep.
 
Devon Massengale (Elkhorn) pitched three and one-third innings and took the loss.  Massengale gave up eight hits, seven runs – all earned, and struck out two.  Trista Hutchings (Cambridge, Ontario, Canada) threw the final one and one-third innings.  Hutchings gave up three hits, one earned run, and struck out one.

CMU GAME TWO BOX SCORE
 
Evangel Game One Action
 
The Bobcat bats were cold in the first game against Evangel on Wednesday as well.  Maresh managed to get the only hit, which was a double in the top of the second, but she was stranded there.
 
Evangel pounded out 17 hits in the game to score their seven runs.
 
Johnson took the loss after throwing four and two-thirds innings.  Johnson gave up 14 hits, six runs – five earned, and struck out three.  Hutchings pitched one and one-third innings and gave up three hits, one earned run, and struck out one.

EVANGEL GAME ONE BOX SCORE
 
Evangel Game Two Action
 
Peru State's bats finally got going in the second game against the Crusaders.  Tracy Bohlmeyer (Fairbury) started things off in the first inning by reaching base on an Evangel error.  Bohlmeyer went to second as Oldfield reached first on a fielder's choice.  After the first out of the inning, Maresh singled down the right field line to drive in Bohlmeyer to put the 'Cats on top 1-0.
 
Evangel would tie the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the second.
 
In the top of the third, Bohlmeyer led off with a single to shallow left-center and went to second on a Crusader error.  On a Bobcat ground out, Bohlmeyer went to third.  After a strikeout, Maresh singled down the left field line and Bohlmeyer scored to put Peru State up 2-1.  Toni Moffatt (Morden, Manitoba, Canada) was hit by a pitch and went to first with Maresh moving to second.  Massengale singled to shallow center, driving in Maresh with Moffatt going to second on the hit and then to third on the throw.  Massengale also went to second.  Samantha Walker (Peyton, Colo.) singled to center bringing home both Moffatt and Massengale making 5-1.
 
Evangel would narrow the gap to 5-3 in the bottom of the inning and then it was a pitcher's duel for the rest of the game as neither team scored, giving Peru State the split.
 
Peru State scored their five runs on eight hits and did not commit an error.  The Crusaders scored three runs on seven hits and had two errors.
 
Maresh and Massengale each had two hits in the game with Maresh driving in two runs.  Sam Walker had one hit that drove in two RBI.
 
Massengale pitched the entire seven innings for her third win of the year.  Massengale gave up seven hits, three earned runs and struck out two.

EVANGEL GAME TWO BOX SCORE
 
Upcoming Games
 
The Bobcats are on the road again on Thursday.  This time they will travel to Seward to take on the Concordia University Bulldogs in a non-conference double header.    Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.
 
This weekend, the Bobcats will return home for a pair of double headers.  On Saturday, Peru State will host HAAC opponents, Baker University, with the games scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.  Then, on Sunday, the Hastings College Broncos will be in Peru for another non-conference double header beginning at 1 p.m.