Peru State scored its five runs on 12 hits and committed one error. The Ravens scored six runs on 11 hits and had two miscues.
Croushorn was four for four and had one RBI to lead Peru State in hitting. Santiesteban and Cherin each added two hits.
started the game on the mound and pitched the first four and two-third innings. Patterson gave up ten hits, four earned runs, and struck out one.
came in to relieve Patterson and was tagged for the loss. Borst threw one and two-third innings, giving up one hit, two earned runs, and struck out one. Cherin threw the final out of the game for the Bobcats.
Benedictine was able to get to Peru State in the bottom half of the first inning for five runs, which would have been enough to eventually win the game.
The Bobcats first got on the scoreboard in the top of the third. Croushorn singled to first and went to second when Tanner reached on a walk. Voigt loaded the bases when he reached first on a Raven error. After an out, Phil Lial
hit a sacrifice fly to left and Croushorn was able to score, making it 7-1 Benedictine.
Peru State would get closer in the top of the fourth inning as Cherin started things with a single to shallow left. Following an out, Cherin advanced to second on a passed ball. Grabowski reached on a walk to put runners at first and second. Croushorn doubled down the left-field line, bringing home Cherin for the first run of the half-inning. Tanner followed with a double to right-center, driving home Grabowski and Croushorn, making the score 7-4 Benedictine.
However, that was all Peru State would score while the Ravens would add one more in the fourth and another in the sixth for the final 9-4 margin.
The 'Cats scored their four runs on six hits and had one miscue. Benedictine scored their nine runs on 12 hits and also had one error.
Croushorn and Cherin each had two hits to lead Peru State. Tanner's double in the fourth gave him two RBI.
Brent Brown (Hemet, Calif.) started the game for the Bobcats and only lasted two innings for the loss. Brown gave up eight hits, seven runs – six earned, and struck out two. Pat Bramhall
(Vermillion, Kan.) was Brown's reliever and finished the game throwing four innings. Bramhall gave up four hits, two earned runs, and struck out two.
GAME TWO BOX SCORE
Sunday Game One
Playing early on Sunday morning in order to avoid the potential rain, the Bobcats were able to get the bats going earlier than they had on Saturday.
In the top of the first after an out, Tanner doubled to deep right and went to third on a groundout. Santiesteban singled thru the hole at shortstop, with Tanner coming home for the first run of the game. Lial followed with a single to right and Santiesteban made it 2-0 Peru State.
The Ravens managed to get one of those runs back in the bottom of the inning, but that would be all Benedictine would score in the first game.
Peru State would add another run in the top of the fourth. Cherin singled thru the hole at shortstop and went to second on a stolen base. Wright singled to shallow left, but it was deep enough to score Cherin, putting the 'Cats on top 3-1.
After not scoring in the fifth, the Bobcats exploded for five runs in the top of the sixth. Cherin reached base, despite striking out, as the dropped strikeout was thrown wild to first base. Wright singled, moving Cherin to second. Palko came in as a courtesy runner for Wright. After an out, Grabowski doubled to deep left, scoring Cherin with Palko moving to third. The Ravens loaded the bases by issuing an intentional walk to Croushorn. A walk to Tanner scored Palko. Another walk scored Grabowski and was followed by a wild pitch scoring Croushorn. Another Raven wild pitch scored Tanner and the Bobcats plated five runs in the inning on just two hits and left two on base. At that point, Peru State led 8-1.
In the top of the seventh, Wright started with a single for Peru State and Palko came in to run for Wright. After the first out, Grabowski reached first on a fielder's choice and both runners advanced on a wild throw. Croushorn hit a sacrifice fly to right and Palko scored. Tanner followed with a single and Grabowski scored, giving Peru State a 10-1 advantage, which would prove to be the final score the game.
The 'Cats scored their ten runs on ten hits and committed one error. Benedictine scored one run on three hits and committed four miscues.
Wright was three for three and had one RBI. Tanner and Santiesteban each had two hits with Tanner having two RBI.
Aubrey Dezarn (Las Vegas, Nev.) picked up the win, pitching a complete game. Over the seven innings, Dezarn gave up just three hits, one earned run, and struck out five. It was Dezarn's fourth win of the year against one loss.
GAME ONE BOX SCORE
Sunday Game Two
The Bobcats were able to score eight runs in the second game before Benedictine was able to get a hit.
In the first, Croushorn singled to deep right-center and went to second on a groundout. Voigt also singled to deep right-center and Croushorn scored, giving Peru State an early 1-0 lead.
To start the third inning, Grabowski singled to right and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Croushorn. Tanner followed with a single to center scoring Grabowski. With a stolen base, Tanner advanced to second. Voigt reached first on a fielder's choice, but Tanner was tagged out. Voigt went to second with a stolen base and then scored on Santiesteban's single thru the hole at shortstop. At the end of two and one-half innings, the 'Cats led 3-0.
Peru State increased its lead in the top of the fourth inning with Cherin getting things going with a single to left. Wright singled deep down the left field line with Cherin going to third and Wright advancing to second on the throw. Palko came in to pinch run for Wright. After two outs, Croushorn reached on a walk to load the bases. Tanner followed with a single to right with Cherin and Palko scoring, making it 5-0 Bobcats. On the play, Croushorn had advanced to third and then scored on a passed ball with Tanner moving to second. Voigt reached on a walk and then both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Santiesteban doubled to deep left, driving in both runners, giving Peru State an 8-0 lead at that point.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Ravens would score their only runs of the game, cutting the Bobcat lead to 8-3.
After not scoring in the fifth, the 'Cats exploded for six more runs in the top of the sixth inning. Grabowski doubled to left-center and went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Croushorn. Another double to deep left-center by Tanner scored Grabowski. Tanner went to third on a single by Voigt to left-center. Santiesteban tripled deep down the left field line, scoring both Tanner and Voigt. Lial singled to center and Santeisteban scored the fourth run of the inning. After the single, Palko came in to run for Lial and went to second on a balk. Following the second out, Wright was hit by a pitch and
Dan McGonigle (Blue Springs, Mo.) came in to run for Wright. Bramhall doubled to deep left-center, scoring both Palko and McGonigle, giving the Bobcats an insurmountable 14-3 lead.
In the top of the seventh, Peru State would score again. McGonigle, pinch hitting for Tanner, singled to left.
Tanner DeGafferelly (Freeport, Fla.) reached base on a walk with McGonigle moving to second. After an out, Lial singled thru the hole at second base, scoring McGonigle and DeGafferelly advancing to second. Another strikeout followed, but then Wright singled to right, driving in DeGafferelly, for the 16
th and final run of the game.
Peru State hammered out 21 hits to get their 16 runs and committed no errors. Benedictine scored their three runs on five hits and had no errors.
Tanner, Santiesteban, Lial, and Grabowski each had three hits to lead the Bobcats. Santiesteban had five RBI, Tanner had four, and Lial added two. Bramhall's double produced two RBI.
Marshall Klontz pitched a complete game for the win, his third of the year. Klontz gave up five hits, three earned runs, and struck out eight.
GAME TWO BOX SCORE
Upcoming Games
After playing nine games last week, if Mother Nature permits, Peru State will only play five games this week.
On Wednesday, the Bobcats will play one nine-inning contest in Nebraska City as hosts to the Midland University Warriors. It will be a twilight game that is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
This weekend, Peru State has another important four-game HAAC series on the road as they travel to Kansas City, Mo., to face the Avila University Eagles. Double headers are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
