(Peru, Neb.) – For the second straight weekend playing down south, the Bobcat baseball team split four games.  This past weekend, Peru State split contests with Wayland Baptist University and Houston-Victoria College in Plainview, Texas.
 
On Friday, the Bobcats fell to Houston-Victoria 9-2 and came back with a 13-9 win over the hosts, Wayland-Baptist.
 
Then, on Saturday, the outcomes were reversed.  In its opener with Wayland Baptist, Peru State lost 4-3 in 11 innings.  In its second game, the Bobcats topped Houston-Victoria 6-4.
 
With its four-game split, Peru State is now 4-4 on the season.
  
Game Action
 
The Jaguars scored one in the top of the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead. 
 
Neither team would score until Houston-Victoria scored a run in the top of the fifth.  The Bobcats did have a good opportunity in the bottom of the fourth as Randy Santiesteban (Hialeah, Fla.) doubled down the left-field line after the first two outs of the inning.  It was the first hit for Peru State, but Santiesteban was left stranded as the next batter struck out.
 
After the Jaguars led 2-0, the 'Cats tried to start another two-out rally in the bottom of the fifth.  Jordan Silva (Lynnwood, Wash.) reached on an error and advanced to second when Josh Cedeno (Miami, Fla.) singled up the middle.  Again, Peru State could not score as the next batter flied out.
 
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Peru State was able to get on the scoreboard.  Josh Alonzo (Riverside, Calif.) singled down the right-field line and went to second on a ground out.  Santiesteban hit his second double of the game driving in Alonzo.  But, the next batter struck out followed by a ground out.  After six complete innings, Houston-Victoria led 2-1.

 
Neither team would score in the seventh, but the Jaguars would explode for six runs in the top of the eighth inning.  Peru State could not score in the bottom half of the inning and Houston-Victoria led 8-1 heading into the final inning.
 
The Jaguars would add another run in the top half of the ninth increasing their lead to 9-1. 
 
In the Bobcats' half of the inning, they tried to make it interesting.  Seth Walston (Hemet, Calif.) doubled to center field and advanced to third on a passed ball.  Chase Phillips (Highland, Calif.) singled up the middle to drive in Walston making it 9-2.  Mark McGinnity (Pembrook Pines, Fla.) also singled up the middle with Phillips advancing to second.  After a strikeout, Cedeno singled through the left side to load the bases.  Two pop-up outs later, the Bobcats left the bases loaded and lost the game 9-2.
 
Game Statistics
 
Houston-Victoria scored its nine runs on 15 hits and committed one error.  The Bobcats scored their two runs on eight hits and also had one error.
 
Santiesteban and Cedeno each went two for four to lead Peru State.  Santiesteban and Phillips each had one RBI. 
 
Daniel Muniz (Miami, Fla.) threw the first seven innings for Peru State and gave up six hits, two runs – one earned, and struck out seven.  Muniz was tagged for the loss.
 
Angus Miller (Fontana, Calif.) tossed one inning and allowed seven hits and six earned runs.  Andrew Robinson (Imperial Beach, Calif.) tossed the final inning.  Robinson allowed two hits, one earned run, and struck out one.

HOUSTON-VICTORIA BOX SCORE
  
Game Action
 
Neither team would score in the first inning. 
 
 

Peru State got on the board first in the top of the second inning as Scout Villanueva (Bakersfield, Calif.) homered down the left-field line on a 3-2 pitch to make it 1-0 Bobcats.
 
Wayland Baptist would come back and score a run in the bottom of the second to knot it at 1-1.  The pioneers would add two runs in the bottom of the third to lead 3-1 after three complete innings.
 
In the top of the fourth, the Bobcats would explode for five runs.  Grand Hindman (Omaha) doubled to left center and went to third on a Santiesteban single.  Villanueva doubled to left center to drive in Hindman with Santiesteban moving to third.  Phillips singled to left field driving in Santiesteban and Villanueva moving to third.  Walston tripled down the right-field line driving in both base runners.  After a pitching change, McGinnity was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners.  Cedeno flied out to center, but was credited for the RBI as Walston scored.  At the end of the top half of the fourth, Peru State led 6-3.
 
However, the Peru State lead would be short-lived as Wayland Baptist came back with four runs in the bottom half of the inning to retake the lead at 7-6.
 
In the top of the fifth, Alonzo singled to start the inning and went to second when Hindman walked.  On a ground out, each runner advanced a base.  On a Villanueva ground out, Alonzo scored to tie it up at 7-7. 
 
After holding the Pioneers scoreless in their half of the inning, Peru State came back with another big inning in the top of the sixth. Walston reached on a walk and advanced on a ground out.  Cedeno singled to right center with Walston moving to third.  Brandon Melendez (Miramar, Fla.) came in to run for Cedeno.  Killen laid down a bunt single bringing home Walston to give Peru State an 8-7 lead.  Alonzo followed with a bunt single to load the bases.  Hindman doubled to center field and cleared the bases making it 11-7 Peru State.  After the second out of the inning, Villanueva singled down the right-field line and Hindman scored.  At the end of the half inning, the 'Cats led 12-7.
 
The Bobcats would add another run in the top of the eighth inning.  Kyle Killen (Commerce City, Colo.) singled to right center and then stole second.  Killen would advance to third on another bunt single by Josh Alonzo.  After a pitching changed, Hindman reached base on a fielder's choice with Alonzo out at second.  However, Killen scored on the play and the Bobcats now led 13-7.
 
Wayland Baptist would plate two in the bottom of the ninth, but it would not be enough as the Bobcats claimed the 13-9 victory.
 
Game Statistics
 
Peru State scored their 13 runs on 15 hits and had no errors.  The Pioneers also had 15 hits, but only scored nine runs.  Wayland Baptist did not commit any errors.
 
Alonzo and Villanueva each went three for five to lead Peru State.  Hindman, Walston, and Killen each had two hits.  Hindman and Villanueva each had four RBI in the win while Walston was credited with two. 
 
Miguel Navarro (San Jacinto, Calif.) was credited for the win, his first of the season.  Navarro threw seven and two-third innings and allowed 13 hits, seven earned runs, and struck out nine.  Tim Patterson (Valdosta, Ga.) tossed the final one and one-third innings.  Patterson allowed two hits, two earned runs, and struck out one.

WAYLAND BAPTIST BOX SCORE
  
Game Action
 
Saturday's games were moved up an hour and began at 10 a.m. to try to beat out a cold front hitting Texas.

 
Neither team would score in the first two innings.
 
In the top of the third, the Bobcats got on the board first. Killen would single to right field after the first out.  On Alonzo's single, Killen advanced to third. Killen would come home to put the 'Cats up 1-0.  Peru State would eventually leave the bases loaded.
 
Wayland Baptist would eventually tie it in the bottom of the fifth inning. Later, the Pioneers would take a 3-1 lead after scoring two in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Peru State would respond in the top of the eighth.  Santiesteban singled through the left side and would go to third on a Villanueva double to left center.  Melendez would enter to run for Villanueva at that point.  Phillips singled to center field and Santiesteban scored, but Melendez was thrown out at third base.  Phillips would advance to second base on a passed ball.  After Walston reached on a walk, both runners would advance on a wild pitch.  McGinnity would reach on an error allowing Phillips to score.  A double-play closed out the inning for the 'Cats, but not before they had knotted the game at 3-3.
 
Neither team would score in the ninth to force extra innings.  Both teams went down in order in the tenth.
 
In the top of the eleventh, McGinnity singled to left field to start the inning and went to second on a ground out.  Killen would reach base on an error.  But, the next two Bobcats struck out looking; ending Peru State's scoring opportunity.
 
 

In the bottom of the inning, the Pioneers would have the bases loaded and eventually punched home the winning run with a single to left field.
 
Game Statistics
 
The Pioneers scored their four runs on 11 hits and committed three errors.  Peru State scored their three runs on ten hits and had two miscues.
 
Hindman, Villanueva, and McGinnity each had two hits for the 'Cats.  Hindman, Phillips, and McGinnity each had one RBI.
 
Manny Arciniega (Hemet, Calif.) started the game on the mound for Peru State and through seven innings.  Arciniega gave up eight hits, three runs – two earned, and struck out five.
 
Tanner DeGafferelly (Freeport, Fla.) threw the final three and one-third innings and suffered the loss.  DeGafferelly allowed three hits, one earned run, and struck out two.

WAYLAND BAPTIST BOX SCORE
  
Game Action
 
In Peru State's final game of the trip to Texas, the Bobcats jumped and scored runs early in the game.
 
In the first inning, after the first out, Hindman singled to right field.  Santiesteban followed with a single with Hindman advancing to third.  Villanueva walked to load the bases with Melendez entering to run for him.  Walston doubled to left center to clear the bases and gave Peru State a 3-0 lead.  That would be all of the scoring for the 'Cats in the inning.
 
The Bobcats would add an additional run in the top of the third inning.  Santiesteban doubled to left center and went to third on a ground out.  Walston produced his second double of the game to drive in Santiesteban to make it 4-0 Peru State.
 
Houston-Victoria would finally get on the board in the bottom of the sixth with two runs to make it 4-2 Peru State.

 
The 'Cats would add some insurance runs in the top of the seventh.  Santiesteban singled through the left side and went to second when Villanueva singled to center field.  Again, Melendez entered to run for Villanueva.  On a ground out, both runners advanced. McGinnity had a sacrifice fly which allowed Santiesteban to score. A Silva single up the middle would score Melendez and the Bobcats led 6-2 at that point. 
 
In the bottom of the eighth, the Jaguars tried to make it interesting as they added two runs, but did leave two on base to cut the score to 6-4.
 
That would prove to be the final score of the game as Peru State left a runner on base in the top of the ninth, but shut down the Jaguars in the bottom of the inning with a double-play.
 
Game Statistics
 
Santiesteban finished the game going four of five while Walston was three of four with four RBI. McGinnity and Silva each added one RBI.
 
Luke Schneider (Monument, Colo.) picked up his first win in a Bobcat uniform as he threw eight innings.  Schneider allowed six hits, four earned runs, and struck out nine Jaguar batters.
 
Patterson picked up the save, his first of the season, as he tossed the final inning and allowed just one hit.

HOUSTON-VICTORIA BOX SCORE
 
Upcoming Games
 
The Bobcats are scheduled to play Doane College this coming Saturday, Feb. 28, in Crete, and then at home on Sunday, March 1.  However, it appears Mother Nature may have something to say about the games as it is not supposed to be above 40 degrees either day and with a chance of snow on both days.
 
Watch the Bobcat website for updates on the games and future contests.