– After seeing a no-hitter thrown against them in the first game, the Peru State Bobcat softball team bounced back to get a split by winning the second game against Baker University on Saturday.
In key Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) play, the Wildcats took game one 7-0 with Peru State bouncing back to take the second game 3-1.
With the split, Baker is now 14-8 overall and second in the HAAC with a 6-2 mark. Peru State is sixth in the HAAC with a 6-4 record and is 10-18 overall.
Game One Action
After three scoreless innings, Baker first got on the board with two runs in the top of the fourth. The Wildcats would score in each of the remaining three innings to grab the win. The Bobcats only had one base runner as the Wildcat pitcher nearly had a perfect game, but issued one walk.
Baker scored their seven runs on 14 hits and committed no errors while the Bobcats had three miscues.
Devon Massengale (Elkhorn) took the loss after pitching the first four and one-third innings. Massengale gave up eight hits, four runs – two earned, and struck out two.
Trista Hutchings (Cambridge, Ontario, Canada) threw the final two and two-thirds innings. Hutchings gave up six hits and three earned runs.
GAME ONE BOX SCORE
Game Two Action
The second saw a good pitching duel as neither team scored through the first three innings.
In the bottom of the fourth,
Kristen Bodyk (Paris, Ontario, Canada) singled to shallow right-center and advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Emily Maresh (Central City) doubled to deep right-center to drive in Bodyk for Peru State's first run of the day. Maresh would advance to third on a groundout.
Jordan Walker (Peyton, Colo.) reached base on a walk and
Holly Kurz (Elkhorn) came in to pinch run for Walker.
Cheyenne Dalrymple (Stockton, Calif.) hit a sacrifice fly to center driving in Maresh to make it 2-0 Peru State.
In the top of the sixth, Baker cut the lead in half by scoring a run.
In the bottom of the inning, Peru State would add an insurance run. Maresh was hit by a pitch and went to second on a groundout.
Abbie Moser (Lincoln) came in to run for Maresh and would later come home when Dalrymple doubled down the right-field line, making the score Peru State 3-1.
The 'Cats scored their three runs on five hits and committed one error. Baker managed their one run on four hits and had one error.
Tesla Oldfield (Nebraska City), Bodyk, Maresh, Walker, and Dalrymple each had one hit with Dalrymple being credited for two RBI.
Lauren Johnson (Seward) earned the win as she threw a complete game. Johnson gave up four hits, one earned run, and struck out three. For Johnson, it was her sixth win of the year.
GAME TWO BOX SCORE
Upcoming Games
On Sunday, April 7, Peru State will host non-conference GPAC foe, Hastings College, with the games scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. in order to try to avoid Mother Nature and the potential rain.
On Tuesday, Peru State will travel to HAAC opponent, MidAmerica Nazarene University, in Olathe, Kan., for a double header beginning at 4 p.m.
