(Peru, Neb.) – It was a matchup of GPAC versus HAAC schools and the HAAC school prevailed as the Peru State softball team swept the visiting Midland University Warriors on Tuesday at the Centennial Complex Field in Peru.
The Bobcats won the first game 7-3 and came from behind in the second game to win 10-7. With the two wins, the 'Cats improved to 24-17 overall while Midland fell to 16-15.
Game One Action Neither team scored in the first two innings although both had opportunities to do so. In the top of the third, Midland scored two runs to go up 2-0 at that point.
In the bottom of the third, after two outs,
(Gretna) came in to pinch hit and singled to center.
(Waco) singled up the middle to start the half inning.
Cheyenne Dalrymple (Stockton, Calif.) reached first on the fielder's choice with Holloway moving to second on an error.
Rebecca Perez (Phoenix) reached on a walk to load the bases. After a strikeout, Tracy reached on a walk to drive in Halloway for the Bobcats' first run of the inning. After a wild pitch could not score any, Blackwell reached first on a fielder's choice with Dalrymple forced out at home for the second out of the inning. Still with the bases loaded,
Abbie Moser (Lincoln) hit a ball to deep left-center which bounced off the top of the yellow topping on the outfield fence back into the field of play. After the hit was initially ruled as an out, the play was reversed and ruled a ground-rule double with two base runners scoring to tie it at 3-3.
After play resumed, Bohlmeyer doubled down the left field line to drive in the base runners to give Peru State a 5-3 lead. O'Gorman followed with a single to bring home Bohlmeyer and the 'Cats led 6-3 at the end of the second inning.
Neither team scored in the third, but Midland added one run in the fourth, making it 6-4 Peru State.
Neither team scored in the fifth. Midland came back in the top of the sixth to score three runs and take the lead at 7-6.
In the bottom of the sixth, Perez started the Bobcats off with a single to third.
Jenna Gruber (Lincoln) came in to run for Perez and came home when Webb hit a home run over the right field fence on a 2-2 count. This gave Peru State an 8-7 lead at that point. After an out, Blackwell singled thru the hole at shortstop and then stole second. Moser reached on a walk and the runners both advanced a base on a ground out for the second out of the inning. O'Gorman singled shallow down the left field line with both runners scoring. At the end of six complete innings, the 'Cats led 10-7.
Midland's first batter reached on a walk which was followed by a fly ball out. Then, the Warriors grounded into a double play and Peru State won 10-7.
The Bobcats scored their ten runs on eight hits and had two miscues. Midland scored their seven runs on five hits and also had two errors.
O'Gorman was the only Bobcat with more than one hit as she finished two for four while driving in three runs. Moser, Bohlmeyer, and Webb each had two RBI.
Devon Massengale (Elkhorn) started the game for Peru State and threw the first five and one-third innings. Massengale gave up five hits, seven runs – six earned, and struck out two. McNeese relieved Massengale and tossed the last one and two-third innings to earn the win. McNeese did not allow a hit while walking one batter.
MIDLAND GAME TWO BOX SCORE Upcoming Games Peru State will take on another Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) opponent on Friday in what could be their final non-conference action of the season. The Bobcats will be traveling to Orange City, Iowa, to face the Northwestern College Red Raiders. Currently, Northwestern is 24-15 overall and will play four games before the Bobcats visit. Game time for the double header is scheduled for 2 p.m.
On Saturday, the 'Cats will be home to host Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) foe Avila University. The double header with the Eagles, who are 8-27 overall and 2-10 in the HAAC), is scheduled for 2 p.m. It will be Senior and Parents Day at the Centennial Field Complex with the event taking place between the games.
