(Peru, Neb.) – Going into the weekend, the Peru State baseball team had the best record in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC). After being swept in four games by MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU) in Olathe, Kan., on Friday and Saturday, the Bobcats fell to 6-6 in the HAAC and now are in third place in the Western Division as MNU took the division lead.

The 'Cats lost the first three games of the series by one run each. On Friday, Peru State lost 6-5 and 4-3 in 11 innings. On Saturday, the Bobcats dropped the first game 4-3 and then the Pioneers won the second game 5-1.

With the four wins, MNU improved to 9-3 in the HAAC and 16-9 overall while taking over the top spot in the Western Division of the HAAC. Peru State fell to 15-10 overall and 6-6 in conference play, now third in the division behind MNU and Baker University.

Friday Game One Action

It was a pitcher's duel in the first game on Friday as all of the runs were scored in two half-innings and neither team had many potential scoring opportunities.

Neither team scored in the first two innings. In the top of the third, Kadyn Glass (Redlands, Calif.) reached base on a MNU throwing error. On a wild pitch, Glass advanced to third. After a strikeout, Joshua Alonzo (Riverside, Calif.) reached on a walk to put runners on the corner. Randy Santiesteban (Hialeah, Fla.) hit a sacrifice fly to left which scored Glass.

The 1-0 Peru State lead would hold until the bottom of the sixth inning. In the inning, the Bobcats would commit three errors which would help the Pioneers to eventually score two runs.

The 'Cats could not come up with anything in the top of the seventh and MNU won 2-1.

MNU scored their two runs on four hits and committed one error. The Bobcats scored their one run on only two hits and had four miscues in the contest.

Tyler Croushorn (Omaha) and Alonzo were the only Bobcats to get a hit with Santiesteban credited with the RBI on his sacrifice fly.

Miguel Navarro (San Jacinto, Calif.) threw a good game, but was tagged for the loss, his first of the season. Navarro gave up four hits, two runs – one earned, and struck out four.

MNU FRIDAY GAME ONE BOX SCORE

Friday Game Two Action

The second game started similar to the first game as neither team scored in the first two innings.

Peru State would again score in the top of the third inning.

Glass would single to right. Glass advanced to second as Croushorn bunted and reached first on a wild throw. On the error, Glass went on to third. Alonzo reached on a walk to load the bases. Santiesteban reached first on a fielder's choice while Glass scored to make it 1-0 Peru State while Alonzo was forced out at second. Tommy Barnes (Cusseta, Ga.) hit a sacrifice fly to center, deep enough to score Croushorn. At the end of the top half of the third, the 'Cats led 2-0.

The Pioneers did come back in the bottom of the inning to score one run while leaving two on base. After three complete innings, Peru State led 2-1.

In the top of the fourth, Mike Melendez (Hollywood, Fla.) singled up the middle to start the inning. As the next batter struck out, Melendez stole second base. Jake Wright (Freeport, Fla.) reached on a fielder's choice on an error with Melendez advancing to third. Ryan Morrissey (Alford, Fla.) entered to run for Wright. Glass hit a sacrifice fly to center and Melendez scored on the play to put the Bobcats up 3-1.

The Pioneers would get back one run in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 3-2.

Peru State would get one run back in the top of the sixth. Seth Walston (Hemet, Calif.) was hit by a pitch and later would advance to second on a wild pitch. Melendez was also hit by a pitch to get on base. Derrick Davis (Orange Park, Fla.) laid down a bunt for a base hit to load the bases. After a fly ball out, Glass reached on a fielder's choice with Walston scoring. Melendez advanced to third with Davis being forced out at second. A pick-off play ended the inning, but the Bobcats were now up 4-2.

In the top of the seventh, after the first out, Alonzo reached with a single. Alonzo would steal second and go to third on a fly ball out. Barnes would drive in Alonzo with a single to right to make it 5-2.

In the bottom of the seventh, MidAmerica Nazarene would come back to tie it at 5-5 by scoring three runs and left two runners in scoring position. This forced extra innings.

Neither team would score in the next three innings nor would Peru State score in the top of the 11^th after having a runner on third. In the bottom of the inning, errors would be the demise of the Bobcats again as the Pioneers would score a run to win 6-5.

MNU scored their six runs on four hits and committed three errors. The 'Cats outhit the Pioneers as they had nine hits to get their five runs and also committed three errors with two of those errors occurring in the 11^th inning.

Barnes and Melendez each had two hits to lead Peru State. Barnes and Glass each were credited with two RBI.

Manny Arciniega (Hemet, Calif.) started on the mound for the Bobcatas and threw seven innings. Arciniega allowed four hits, five earned runs, and struck out four. Vance Keller (Tacoma, Wash.) came in to relieve Arciniega and tossed four innings and was eventually tagged for the loss. Keller did not give up any hits, but had one unearned run and struck out two.

MNU FRIDAY GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Saturday Game One Action

Peru State again had an early lead against the Pioneers, only to see them come back for the win, this time again in the bottom of the eventual last inning.

Neither team scored runs in the first two innings.

In the top of the third inning, Davis singled to start things off. After an out, Croushorn reached on a fielder's choice with Davis advancing to second. On a fly ball out to center, Davis tagged up and went to third. Alonzo got on base with a walk to load the bases. Melendez stepped to the plate and produced a single which would drive in Davis and Croushorn with Alonzo going to third on the play. Alonzo would score when Santiesteban singled. At the end of the half inning, the Bobcats led 3-0.

MNU would score one in the bottom of the fourth and one in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead to 3-2. Then, in the bottom of the seventh, the Pioneers would plate two runs to take the game 4-3.

Melendez, Santiesteban, Davis, and Croushorn each had one hit with Melendez being credited with two RBI.

Bryan Duncan (Seattle, Wash.) started on the mound for the 'Cats and threw the first four inning. Duncan gave up one hit, one earned run, and struck out two. Marshall Klontz pitched the next one and two-thirds innings, allowing two hits, two earned runs, and struck out one. Walston tossed the last inning and gave up two hits, two earned runs, and struck out two. Walston was tagged for the loss.

MNU SATURDAY GAME ONE BOX SCORE

Saturday Game Two Action

The last game of the four-game series was not as close as the other three. However, Peru State again had the early lead which they held for most of the game.

In the top of the first, Glass singled to start the game. After two outs, Santiesteban doubled to drive in Glass to make it 1-0.

The 1-0 Peru State lead held until the bottom of the fifth inning when MNU scored four runs. The Pioneers would tack on another run in the bottom of the fifth to go up 5-1, the eventual final score.

MNU scored its five runs on six hits and committed no errors. The 'Cats scored their lone run on three hits and did not have any miscues.

Glass, Santiesteban, and Davis each had one hit with Santiesteban having the lone RBI.

Aubrey DeZarn (Las Vegas) tossed the first four and one-third innings and took the loss. DeZarn gave up four hits, three earned runs, and struck out five. Tim Patterson (Valdosta, Ga.) relieved DeZarn and finished the fifth inning while allowing one hit and one earned run. Brent Brown (Hemet, Calif.) threw the last inning and gave up one hit, one earned run, and struck out one.

MNU SATURDAY GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Upcoming Games

Peru State will be back in Kansas on Monday when they travel to Manhattan, Kan., to face the Manhattan Christian College Crusaders. Game time for the double header with the 3-22 Crusaders is 2 p.m. The game is to be played at Norvell Field at the Eisenhower Baseball Complex.

On Tuesday, the Bobcats will be home to host the Grace University Royals in a double header beginning at 1 p.m. Currently, the Royals are 19-9 and recently swept a pair of games from Manhattan Christian College. Both Manhattan and Grace are members of the National Christian College Athletic Association.