(Peru, Neb.) – Mother Nature forced the Peru State Bobcat baseball team to travel to Plainview, Texas, to play its first weekend of games. While the scores may not indicate such, the Bobcats played decent ball despite dropping their first three games of the 2014 campaign.

The Bobcats played two games against Wayland Baptist University (WBU) – one on Friday and one on Saturday. In addition, the 'Cats faced Sterling College of Kansas on Friday. Both teams had played seven games already on the season.

Wayland Baptist – Feb. 14

WBU scored a run in the bottom of the second to take an early 1-0 lead against Peru State. Then, in the bottom of the third, WBU scored another run to go up 2-0.

Peru State never scored, but base runners in the second, third, sixth, and seventh innings, but could not push any runs across.

Tommy Barnes (Cusseta, Ga.) had two of Peru State's four hits in the loss. Derrick Davis (Orange Park, Fla.) and Tyler Croushorn (Omaha) each had one hit.

Manny Arcineiga (Hemet, Calif.) pitched five innings and took the loss. Arcineiga gave up ten hits, two earned runs, and struck out four. Aubrey DeZarn (Las Vegas, Nev.) pitched one inning of relief and did not give up a hit.

WBU BOX SCORE

Sterling College – Feb. 14

The seventh-ranked Sterling College Warriors were Peru State's second game on Friday.

In the bottom of the second, Sterling scored the first run of the game. Peru State was able to tie it up in the top of the fourth as Barnes hit a home run to tie the score at 1-1.

The Bobcats had an opportunity in the top of the fifth to break the tie, but ended up leaving two on base with putting a run across.

Sterling regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth as they plated one run to lead 2-1.

Barnes and Kadyn Glass (Redlands, Calif.) each had two hits in the loss to Sterling. Jake Wright (Freeport, Fla.) and Josh Alonzo (Riverside, Calif.) each added one hit with Wright hitting a double.

Miguel Navarro (San Jacinto, Calif.) threw the first five innings, giving up three hits, one earned run, while striking out four. Vance Keller (Tacoma, Wash.) pitched the sixth inning and took the loss. Keller gave up three hits, one earned run, and struck out one.

STERLING BOX SCORE

Wayland Baptist – Feb. 15

The Pioneers topped Peru State 5-0 in the Bobcats' only game on Saturday. WBU scored two in the bottom of the third and one each in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings.

Peru State left numerous runners on base during the nine-inning contest. In the fifth, the 'Cats had their best scoring opportunity. Davis singled to center field. Kenny Bias (Raymore, Mo.) came in to pinch run for Davis and went to second when Manny Estrada (Las Vegas, Nev.) bunted up the third base line. Bias advanced to third on a fly out and then Estrada advanced to second when the next Bobcat grounded out to third. Croushorn loaded the bases with a walk, but the next 'Cat flied out to left field to end the threat.
The Bobcats also left two on base without scoring in the top of the ninth. Barnes reached base on a Pioneer error and went to second when Seth Walston (Hemet, Calif.) singled to center field. A double play forced Barnes out at third with Walston advancing to second. Estrada then walked, but the next Bobcat struck out.

Walston and Estrada each had two hits to lead Peru State. Davis, Alonzo, and Randy Santiesteban (Hialeah, Fla.) each added one hit.

Michael Melendez (Hollywood, Fla.) pitched the first six innings and was tagged for the loss. Melendez gave up seven hits, four runs – three earned, and struck out one. Timothy Patterson (Valdosta, Ga.) and Marshall Klontz (Auburn, Wash.) each threw one inning of relief. Patterson gave up two hits, one earned run, and struck out one. Klontz did not allow a hit and struck out one.

WBU BOX SCORE

Upcoming Games

The Bobcats will be traveling to Shawnee, Okla., on Friday and Saturday to face St. Gregory's University. Currently, the Cavaliers are 4-3 on the season. On Friday, the teams will play one game beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday, the two teams will play a double header with the first game starting at 1 p.m.