(Peru, Neb.) – It was a pair of one-run games with the Peru State and University of St. Mary (Kan.) (USM) softball teams splitting a double header on Saturday at the Centennial Complex Field in Peru.
The Spires took the first game 3-2 after scoring a run in the top of the seventh to break the tie. In the second game of the twin bill, Peru State scored one in the bottom of the seventh to win 7-6 after USM had tied the game in the top half of the inning.
With the split, Peru State is now 13-8 overall while the Spires are 11-10.
Game One Action
Neither team scored in the first two innings. The Spires plated their first run in the top of the third to lead 1-0.
In the bottom of the fourth, after the first out,
Cheyenne Dalrymple (Stockton, Calif.) homered over the center field fence on a 2-1 count to tie the score at 1-1.
USM regained the lead in the top of the fifth to go up 2-1. In the bottom of the same inning,
Toni Blackwell (Papillion) hit her first ever Bobcat home run, going over the right field fence on a 1-2 count. After five complete innings, the teams were knotted up at 2-2.
Neither team would score in the sixth, but the Spires would scratch out a run in the top of the seventh to win 3-2.
Peru State scored its two runs on six hits and committed two errors. USM scored their three runs on five hits and had one error.
Besides Dalrymple and Blackwell's home runs led the Bobcats while four others had one hit each.
Lauren Johnson (Seward) was on the mound for the 'Cats and pitched a complete game for the loss. Johnson scattered six hits, gave up three runs – two earned and struck out one.
USM GAME ONE BOX SCORE
Game Two Action
The Spires would score the first run of the second game right away in the top of the first.
Peru State would get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning.
Molly Holbrook (Lincoln) singled up the middle to start the inning. After a strike out,
Devon Massengale (Elkhorn) reached on a walk.
Jenna Gruber (Lincoln) then entered the game to run for Holbrook and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Blackwell followed with a single, driving in Gruber with Massengale moving to third and eventually scoring on the throw which caught Blackwell trying to stretch out the play. After two innings, the Bobcats led 2-1.
USM tied the game up in the top half of the third, but Peru State would come back to score in the bottom of the inning.
Traci Bohlmeyer (Fairbury) singled to shallow left to start the inning and advanced to second on a stolen base.
Anna O'Gorman (Omaha) singled up the middle to drive in Bohlmeyer, putting Peru State back up 3-2.
Again, the Spires would tie it up in the top of the next inning, but the 'Cats would respond to the tie.
In the bottom of the fourth, after a ground out, Massengale singled to center and
Sydney Webb (Lincoln) came in to run for Massengale. Blackwell moved Webb over with a single to left. Both runners advanced when
Miranda Lyndes (Peyton, Colo.) earned a walk. Bohlmeyer laid down a sacrifice squeeze bunt to drive in Webb with the runners advancing. On the throw to get Bohlmeyer out, Blackwell scored to give Peru State a 5-3 lead after four innings.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Bobcats would add an insurance run. On the first pitch of the inning, Dalrymple hit her second home run of the day, going over the center field fence to make it 6-3.
Neither team would score in the sixth, but the pesky Spires would tie it up in the top of the seventh at 6-6 while stranding three base runners.
In the bottom of the inning, O'Gorman singled to shallow right and went to second when Dalrymple singled to shallow right.
Halle Holloway (Waco) singled up the middle to load the bases. Holbrook produced a single down the left field line to give the Bobcats the 7-6 win.
The Bobcats would pound out 16 hits to get their seven runs and committed two errors. USM scored their six runs on 11 hits while committing no errors.
Dalrymple went four for four in the win while O'Gorman was three for four. Holbrook and Blackwell each added two hits. Bohlmeyer, O'Gorman, Dalrymple, Holbrook, and Blackwell each had one RBI.
Massengale earned the win pitching a complete game. She scattered 11 hits, gave up six runs – five earned, and struck out four.
USM GAME TWO BOX SCORE
Upcoming Games
On Tuesday, March 18, the Bobcats will host Bethany College from Lindsborg, Kan., in a double header beginning at 1 p.m.
Wednesday, Mother Nature permitting, Peru State will host another non-conference double header when the Concordia University Bulldogs from Seward, Neb., visits Peru. Game time for the contests is 3 p.m.
Peru State will host two more double headers this week as they begin Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) action on Thursday against the Crusaders from Evangel University. Please note the game time for the double header has been moved up to 1 p.m. to accommodate Evangel travel.
Finally, on Saturday, March 22, Peru State will host MidAmerica Nazarene University in a double header scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
