(Peru, Neb.) – The road woes in conference play again plagued the Peru State baseball team as they dropped three of four games at Baker University on the weekend. 
 
With the three wins, the Wildcats improved to 18-24 overall and 12-10 in Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) play.  The Bobcats dropped to 27-17 overall and 14-10 in the HAAC with two conference games remaining.
 
Peru State has secured a spot in the post-season tournament, but the remaining conference games will determine their seed in the tourney to be played in Joplin, Mo., May 1-4.
 
Friday Game One Action
 
The first game on Friday was definitely a pitcher's duel as the scoring came in just two half innings.
 
Peru State scored in the top of the second inning.
 
Baker would rally for two runs in the bottom of the seventh to take the first game 2-1.
 
Baker scored its two runs on three hits and committed one error.  The Bobcats outhit Baker as they had seven hits, but managed only one run.
 
Tommy Barnes (Cusseta, Ga.) and Seth Walston (Hemet, Calif.) each had two hits to lead Peru State.  Davis had the lone RBI.
 
Miguel Navarro (San Jacinto, Calif.) took the loss as he threw a complete game.  In his six and two-third innings of work, Navarro allowed just three hits, two earned runs, and struck out ten.
 
Friday Game Two Action
 
The second game started similar to the second and it appeared another pitching duel was taking place as neither team scored in the first two innings.
 
In the top of the third, Peru State got on the scoreboard first.  After two outs, Joshua Alonzo (Riverside, Calif.) singled to right.  Alonzo went to second when Kadyn Glass (Redlands, Calif.) reached on a walk.  Mike Melendez (Hollywood, Fla.) singled to left to load the bases with Aubrey DeZarn (Las Vegas) entering to run for Melendez.  Randy Santiesteban (Hialeah, Fla.) singled to center to drive in Alonzo and Glass to give the Bobcats a 2-0 lead.
 
The 'Cats would get another run in the fourth inning as Walston started the inning with a triple to deep right-center.  After two outs, Tyler Croushorn (Omaha, Nebr.) singled to left to score Walston and Peru State led 3-0 at that point.
 
After Baker went down in order in the bottom of the fourth, the Bobcats would add to their lead in the top of the fifth.  Glass reached on a walk and went to second when Melendez singled to center.  DeZarn entered again to run for Melendez at that point.  After a pop-up out, Barnes singled to left to score Glass with DeZarn moving to third.  DeZarn would eventually score on an error with Barnes moving to third on the same play.  Walston singled to second with Barnes scoring to put Peru State up 6-0.
 
The 'Cats had an opportunity to add runs in the top of the sixth, but left two on base.  In the bottom of the inning, Baker decided to make it interesting as they scored six runs to tie the game up at 6-6.
 
In the top of the seventh inning, after the first out, Walston doubled to center.  Manny Estrada (Las Vegas) would reach on a Baker error and Walston would score to give the Bobcats a 7-6 lead.
 
Baker went down one-two-three in the bottom of the seventh and Peru State prevailed to split Friday's double header.
 
Melendez and Walston each had three hits in the win with Alonzo adding two.  Santiesteban was credited with two RBI.
 
Melendez threw the first six innings and his performance did not figure into the decision.  Melendez allowed just four hits, six earned runs, and struck out 12.  John Tellini (Pembrook Pines, Fla.) pitched the final inning and did not allow any hits or runs and was credited with the win.
 
Saturday Game One Action
 
Baker scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning and another two in the bottom of the fourth before Peru State could get on the board. 
 
The Bobcats had stranded a pair of base runners in the top of the fourth inning, but did manage to get on the scoreboard in the fifth inning.  Jake Wright (Freeport, Fla.) singled to left with Ryan Morrissey (Alford, Fla.) coming in to run for Wright got on base.  Croushorn singled to right with Morrissey advancing to second.  On a line out, Morrissey advanced to third.  On Estrada's line out, Morrissey was able to score to cut the deficit to 4-1.
 
In the top of the sixth, Barnes singled to right to start the inning.  On a ground out, Barnes went to third.  Derrick Davis (Orange Park, Fla.) hit a sacrifice fly to center to drive in Barnes to make it 4-2, but Peru State could not score any more in the game and lost.
 
Baker scored their four runs on seven hits and committed two errors.  The 'Cats scored their two runs on nine hits and had one miscue.
 
Melendez and Barnes each had two hits with Estrada and Davis each having one RBI.
 
Vance Keller (Tacoma, Wash.) tossed a complete game and took the loss.  Keller allowed seven hits, four earned runs, and struck out four.
 
Saturday Game Two Action
 
Peru State scored its only run in the top of the first inning.  After two outs, Melendez walked and went to third when Santiesteban singled.  When Barnes reached base on a wild throw, Melendez scored.

The 1-0 lead held until the bottom of the sixth inning when the Wildcats plated two runs to go up 2-1. 
 
In the top of the seventh, the Bobcats did have a scoring opportunity as two base runners were eventually left on base.
 
Baker scored its two runs on just four hits with two of those hits coming in the sixth inning.  The Wildcats committed one miscue.  Again, Peru State outhit Baker but could only score one run on five hits and also had one error.
 
Wright went two for three to lead the 'Cats while Barnes was credited for the lone RBI.
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State has a pair of non-conference games on Monday and Tuesday before playing their final HAAC double header on Saturday. 
 
On Monday, the Bobcats will travel to Sioux City, Iowa, to face Briar Cliff University.  Game time for the game with the 15-28 Chargers is 4 p.m.  It will be one nine-inning contest.
 
Then, on Tuesday, the 'Cats will take on another Great Plains Athletic Conference foe on the road when they travel to Lincoln to play Nebraska Wesleyan University at 4 p.m.  Currently, the Prairie Wolves are 6-24.  This will also be a nine-inning contest.
 
Finally, on Saturday, April 26, the Bobcats will be in Marshall, Mo., to face Missouri Valley College in a double header beginning at 1 p.m.  Presently, the Vikings are 10-28 overall and 9-15 in conference play.