(Peru, Neb.) – The Peru State baseball team dropped the opening game on both Friday and Saturday, but came back each day by winning the second game to earn the four-game split.
 
On Friday, the Eagles took game won 3-1 with the 'Cats taking the second game 2-0. On Saturday, Avila won the first game 3-2 while the Bobcats took the second 6-5.
 
With the split, the 25^th-ranked Peru Staters are 28-11 overall and 17-3 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The Eagles' record for the season is 21-18-1 and 10-8 in conference play.
 
Friday Game One Action
 
The Bobcats got a home run from Randy Santiesteban (Hialeah, Fla.) on a 1-1 count in the first inning. For Peru State, that would be the only run. However, the 'Cats left runners on base in four of the next six innings.

 
Avila scored one run in the second, fifth, and six innings in route to the 3-1 victory.
 
The Eagles scored their three runs on eight hits while Peru State scored their lone run on seven hits and had two errors.
 
Scout Villanueva (Bakersfield, Calif.) and Chase Phillips (Highland, Calif.) both went two for three while Santiesteban had the lone RBI.
 
Miguel Navarro (San Jacinto, Calif.) took the loss after throwing six innings. Navarro allowed eight hits, three earned runs, and struck out six.

AVILA FRIDAY GM 1 GAME BOOK
 
Friday Game Two Action
 
The only scoring in the second game on Friday came in the top of the fifth inning.
 
 

Phillips reached with a walk, but was forced out at second when Mark McGinnity (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) reached on a fielder's choice. On a 2-2 count, Jordan Silva (Lynnwood, Wash.) hit a home run over the left field fence putting Peru State up 2-0 which was good enough for the win.
 
Peru State scored its two runs on just three hits and had one error. The Eagles were held to just two hits and committed no errors.
 
Silva, Kyle Killen (Commerce City, Colo.), and Marshall Klontz (Auburn, Wash.) each had one hit while Silva had the two RBI.
 
Adam Quintana (Highland, Calif.) had another no-hitter going which lasted through the first six innings before giving up two singles in the bottom of the seventh. Quintana struck out 11 and walked none in route to his fifth win of the season.

AVILA FRIDAY GM 2 GAME BOOK
 
Saturday Game One Action
 
Again, the scoring happened in just two half-innings for the first game on Saturday.
 
The 'Cats jumped to an early lead as they scored in the first inning. Joshua Alonzo (Riverside, Calif.) doubled to right-center to start the game. After an out, Santiesteban hit his second home run of the series on a 1-2 count over the left field fence. This put Peru State up 2-0 at that point.

 
In the bottom of the second, the Eagles scored three runs to take the lead at 3-2 which would prove to be the final score.
 
Peru State's best scoring opportunity came in the top of the fifth, but the Bobcats ended up leaving two runners stranded on base with both being in scoring position.
 
Avila scored their three runs on just four hits and did not commit any errors. The 'Cats scored their two runs on six hits and also did not commit an error.
 
Santiesteban went two for three and had two RBI to lead the team.
 
Manny Arciniega (Hemet, Calif.) was on the mound and suffered the loss. Arciniega threw six innings while allowing four hits, three earned runs, and struck out four.

AVILA SATURDAY GM 1 GAME BOOK
 
Saturday Game Two Action
 
The final game of the series produced as many total runs as the first three games combined.
 
The Eagles scored one in the second and two in the third to lead 3-0 after three complete innings.
 
In the top of the fourth, Peru State managed to get on board. Killen reached on a walk and after an out, went to second when Villanueva singled to center. Brandon Melendez (Miramar, Fla.) entered to run for Villanueva. After the second out, Phillips hit a home run over the left field fence on a 2-2 count to tie the score at 3-3.
 
Avila would regain the lead in the bottom of the fifth by plating two runs to go up 5-3.
 
 

The Bobcats would get one run back in the top of the sixth. Villanueva singled to center to start the inning with Melendez re-entering to run for Villanueva. Quintana singled to left with Melendez stopping at second. After a pitching change, Phillips bunted to load the bases. McGinnity hit a sacrifice fly to deep right-center with Melendez scoring to cut the lead to 5-4. The Bobcats would wind up stranding two at the end of their half-inning.
 
After shutting down Avila in the bottom of the sixth, Peru State would eventually take the lead in the top of the seventh. Alonzo homered to start the inning over the left field fence on a 1-2 count to tie the score 5-5. After an out, Santiesteban reached on a walk and went to second on a wild pitch. Villanueva was hit by a pitch which forced a pitching change. Quintana singled to center to score Santiesteban and gave the 'Cats the 6-5 lead and moved Villanueva to third. Quintana stole second before the second out. McGinnity would load the bases with a walk, but again, the base runners were stranded.
 
The 6-5 lead would hold up as Avila could not get a run in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Peru State scored their six runs on nine hits and had one error. The Eagles scored their five runs on six hits and did not have an error.
 
Alonzo, Villanueva, and Quintana each had two hits to lead the Bobcats. Phillips led the team with three RBI.
 
Luke Schneider (Monument, Colo.) started the game on the hill for Peru State and was credited for the win, his fifth of the season. Schneider tossed six innings while giving up six hits, five earned runs, and struck out three. Quintana threw the final inning and did not allow a hit and struck out two. Quintana was credited for the save.

AVILA SATURDAY GM 2 GAME BOOK
 
Upcoming Games
 
The Bobcats will have a pair of non-conference games early this week against Great Plains Athletic Conference opponents before getting back into Heart action this weekend.
 
On Monday, the Bobcats are traveling to Crete to face the Doane College Tigers in a nine-inning contest beginning at 4:45 p.m. The Tigers are presently 26-9 overall and are 8-4 in their conference, which is good for second.
 
Peru State will travel to Lincoln on Wednesday to meet the Prairie Wolves of Nebraska Wesleyan University for a nine-inning game beginning at 3 p.m. The Prairie Wolves are 9-18 overall and 5-7 in their conference play.
 
This Friday and Saturday, the 'Cats will be playing their final four-game series of the season as they host their Western Division foe Baker University. The double headers each day will begin at 1 p.m. At this time, Baker is 15-25 overall and are 4-14 in conference play having lost four Heart games this past weekend.