(Peru, Neb.) – In their final non-conference game of the 2014 season, the Peru State baseball team travelled to Lincoln on Tuesday and came away with a 13-5 win over Nebraska Wesleyan University (NWU).
With the win, the Bobcats improved to 28-17 overall while the Prairie Wolves fell to 6-25 on the season.
Game Action Tyler Croushorn (Omaha) singled to left field to start the top half of the first inning. After an out, Croushorn advanced to second on a pitching error and continued to third on the play. After another out,
Randy Santiesteban (Hialeah, Fla.) homered to left field to make it 2-0 Peru State.
In the bottom of the second, NWU scored a run to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Neither team would score in the third or fourth innings.
In the top of the fifth, Croushorn would single to third base and then advance to second on a throwing error. Aubrey DeZarn
(Las Vegas) doubled to left center to bring home Croushorn to give Peru State a 3-1 advantage.
Then, in the top of the sixth inning, after two outs,
Mark McGinnity (Pembrook Pines, Fla.) singled to shortstop. McGinnity would advance to second on a balk.
Derrick Davis (Orange Park, Fla.) followed with a home run to left center giving the 'Cats a 5-1 lead at that point.
In the top of the seventh inning, the Bobcats would double their run output.
Croushorn started the inning again by reaching base on a fielding error. DeZarn followed with a single with Croushorn stopping at second. Mike Melendez
(Hollywood, Fla.) singled to right field with Croushorn scoring the first run of the inning. Santiesteban reached on a fielding error and DeZarn scored, putting Peru State on top 7-1 at that point. After a fly ball out, Manny Estrada
(Las Vegas) doubled to left field with Melendez scoring and Santiesteban stopped at third. After the second out, a single loaded the bases. Santiesteban would eventually score on a wild pitch.
Ryan Morrissey (Alford, Fla.) then walked to again load the bases. After a pitching change, a walk to Croushorn drove in Estrada for the fifth run of the inning, putting the Bobcats up 10-1.
The Prairie Wolves did score two runs in the bottom half of the seventh to cut the lead to 10-3.
In the top of the eighth, Peru State started things with a Melendez single to right field. Santiesteban would follow with a double to left field with Melendez going to third.
Tommy Barnes (Cusseta, Ga.) singled to center field to drive in both base runners. Estrada followed with a single. After another pitching change, McGinnity walked to load the bases. After an out, Morrissey flied out to center field which allowed Barnes to score. At that point, Peru State led 13-3.
NWU scored two runs in the bottom of the inning and then neither team would score in the ninth with the final score being 13-5.
Peru State scored their 13 runs on 15 hits and committed one error. The Prairie Wolves scored their five runs on nine hits and had four miscues.
Five Bobcats had multi-hits in the game and were led by DeZarn and Santiesteban who each went three for six in the win. Croushorn, Melendez, and Estrada each had two hits. Santiesteban was credited with three RBI while Barnes and Davis each added two.
Five Bobcat pitchers contributed to the win. Tim Patterson
(Destin, Fla.) started the game and tossed the first three innings. Patterson scattered four hits, gave up one earned run, and struck out three.
Marshall Klontz (Auburn, Wash.) threw the next three innings and was credited with the win. Klontz allowed just one hit and struck out four.
Brent Brown (Hemet, Calif.) pitched one inning. Brown gave up two hits and two earned runs.
JaQuan Brown (Pensacola, Fla.) pitched the eighth inning and allowed two hits and two earned runs.
John Tellini (Pembrook Pines, Fla.) handled the ninth inning. Tellini did not allow a hit while striking out two.
NWU BOX SCORE Upcoming Games Peru State has a pair of conference games to end the regular season scheduled for Saturday, April 26. The Bobcats will travel to Marshall, Mo., to play a Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) double header beginning at 1 p.m. Currently, the Vikings are 10-29 overall with the majority of their wins coming in HAAC play as they are 9-15 in conference action. Mo Valley will be fighting for the potential to make the HAAC post-season tournament, while the Bobcats will be trying to secure the overall third seed.
The HAAC's post-season tournament will be held the following week, May 1-6, in Joplin, Mo., at the Wendell Reddin Stadium. Pairing will be announced either late Sunday night or Monday morning.
