(Peru, Neb.) – When you hit the ball right to your opponent and your opponents make numerous other snow-cone catches, it can make it tough for a team to win games. That appeared to be the case this past weekend as the Peru State softball team dropped four contests at home.
On Saturday, Heart of America Athletic Conference opponent Baker University swept the Bobcats by the scores of 5-2 and 8-5. Then, on Sunday, Presentation College (S.D.) won 5-3 in eight innings and 3-1 in non-conference action.
With the losses, the Bobcats dropped to 7-13 overall and 0-4 in conference play.
Baker Game One Action Baker scored two runs in the top of the second, one in the top of the fifth, and two in the top of the sixth to take a 5-0 lead.
Toni Blackwell had a double and a triple against Baker The Bobcats did not score until the seventh inning but had left two on base in the bottom of the first and sixth innings.
In the bottom of the seventh,
Sydney Webb (Lincoln) homered over the left field fence on a 1-2 count.
Molly Holbrook (Lincoln) singled to right and
Shelbie Hess (Phoenix) came in to pinch run for Holbrook. After two outs,
Toni Blackwell (Papillion) tripled to drive in Hess. But, that was it for Peru State as the next batter lined out.
Baker scored its five runs on seven hits and had no errors. Peru State scored their two runs on six hits and had one miscue.
Leah Quick (Kansas City, Mo.) went two for three to lead Peru State in hitting with Webb and Blackwell being credited with one RBI apiece.
Nicole Reznicek (Omaha) pitched a complete game and suffered the loss. Reznicek allowed seven hits, five earned runs, and struck out one.
BAKER GAME ONE GAMEBOOK Baker Game Two Action 
Molly Holbrook, along with the Baker players, coach, and umpire watch
her home run in the second game go over the left field fenceThe Wildcats again took the early lead in the second game as they had a 4-0 lead after two and one-half innings.
The Bobcats would get on the board in the bottom of the third after two outs. Blackwell doubled to center and Quick followed with a single to drive in Blackwell, but that was the end of the scoring.
After getting the Wildcats out in order in the top of the fourth, Peru State would close the gap in the bottom of the inning. Webb homered over the left field fence on a 2-1 count. Holbrook, on a 3-2 count, also homered. After a pitching change, the Bobcats went down in order, but only trailed 4-3 at that point.
Baker would add two more runs in the top of the fifth to extend their lead to 6-3.
The Wildcats stranded two in the top of the sixth without scoring leaving the door open for Peru State.
Cheyenne Dalrymple (Stockton, Calif.) doubled to deep left-center to start the inning with Webb following with a double to shallow left to drive in Dalrymple. On the play, Webb was thrown out stretching for third. Holbrook followed with a single up the middle and Hess came in to run for Holbrook at that point.
Brittany McNeese (Gretna) doubled deep down the right field line to drive in Hess to make the score 6-5. McNeese was stranded on second as the next two batters popped up and flied out.
Baker would add two insurance runs in the top of the seventh and in the bottom half of the inning, Peru State quickly went down in order.
The Wildcats scored their eight runs on ten hits and had no errors. Peru State scored its five runs, also on ten hits, and had two errors.
Holbrook went three for three while Webb had two hits. Webb led the team with two RBI.
Lauren Johnson (Seward) threw a complete gain and was tagged for the loss. Johnson allowed ten hits, eight earned runs, and struck out four.
Molly Holbrook (2) throws to Leah Quick at first for a Baker outBAKER GAME TWO GAMEBOOK Presentation Game One Action The Saints score one in the top of the first to take the early 1-0 lead. Peru State squandered a scoring opportunity in the bottom of the inning as it left the bases load.
In the bottom of the second, McNeese singled to the infield to start things off. After a strike out,
Jenna Gruber (Lincoln) singled to right with McNeese advancing to third on the play. Gruber stole second and when Quick singled to center, both McNeese and Gruber were able to score to give Peru State a 2-1 lead.
Presentation would tie it up in the top of the third as they plated one run. Then, in the top of the fourth, the Saints would regain the lead by adding one run.
In the bottom of the fifth, Blackwell started the half inning by reaching base on a Presentation error. Quick laid down a nice sacrifice bunt to move Blackwell to second. Later, Blackwell would score on a wild throw to tie the game at 3-3.
Peru State squandered opportunities to score in both the sixth and seventh inning after stopping the Saints. In the bottom of the sixth, the 'Cats left the bases loaded and in the seventh, Peru State stranded runners on second and first.
With the international tiebreak scoring being applied, the Saints were able to score two runs in the top of the eighth. Later, they held the Bobcats scoreless to take game one.
Jenna Gruber made a nice catch in the first game
against Presentation as the wind challenged
all players on SundayPresentation scored their five runs on seven hits and had three errors. The Bobcats scored their three runs on eight hits and committed one error.
Quick and McNeese led the Bobcats with two hits apiece with Quick having two RBI.
McNeese was on the mound for Peru State and tossed the entire eight innings. McNeese allowed seven hits, five runs – four earned, and struck out a season-high eight batters.
PRESENTATION GAME ONE GAMEBOOK Presentation Game Two Action Peru State took the early lead in the second game as the scored in the bottom of the second. Webb reached base on one of four Saint errors to start the inning and then went to second with a stolen base. Holbrook singled to shallow left and Webb scored what would be Peru State's only run.
The 'Cats would leave base runners on board in four of the last five innings while not being able to capitalize on their chances.
Presentation would tie it in the fourth and then score in the sixth and one in the seventh to take the 3-1 win. The Saints actually stranded more base runners than Peru State as they left ten on base.
The Saints scored their three runs on 12 hits and had four miscues. Peru State managed its one run on five hits and did not commit any errors.
Holbrook had two hits to lead Peru State and had the lone RBI.
Kayla Guerrero (Omaha) took the loss for Peru State. Guerrero threw seven innings, allowing 12 hits, three earned runs, and struck out one.
Sydney Webb stole a base in the second game against the Saints
which eventually led to Peru State's only runPRESENTATION GAME TWO GAMEBOOK Upcoming Games Peru State's string of home games continues as they will host a non-conference and conference double header this week.
On Thursday, the Bobcats will host Northwestern College of the Great Plains Athletic Conference. The Red Raiders are currently 10-14 on the season and will play four more games before heading to Peru. Game time for the double header is scheduled for 2 p.m.
On Saturday, Peru State will be back in conference play when they host Missouri Valley College of Marshall, Mo. The Vikings are presently 6-8 on the season and have dropped a pair of Heart games and are 0-2.
Other upcoming home scheduled games include: April 7 – Graceland University – 2 p.m. double header; April 11 – Culver-Stockton College – 2 p.m. double header; and April 12 – Hastings College – 1 p.m. double header.
