(Peru, Neb.) – The Peru State softball team had opportunities to win three of four games this weekend, but stranded too many runners in scoring position. The Bobcats split a pair of Heart of Athletic Conference games with the visiting Culver-Stockton College Wildcat on Saturday. On Sunday, Hastings College swept the 'Cats in a non-conference double header.
 
The Bobcats are now 9-21 on the season and are 2-8 in the Heart.
 
Culver-Stockton Game One Action
 
After shutting down the Wildcats in the top of the first, Peru State scored in the bottom half of the inning.

 
Toni Blackwell (Papillion) doubled down the left field line to start the inning. Brittney McNeese (Gretna) struck out but advanced to first on the catcher's passed ball. Blackwell then stole third and would score when Halle Holloway (Waco) grounded out with McNeese advancing to second. Cheyenne Dalrymple (Stockton, Calif.) produced an infield single to load the bases. Molly Holbrook (Lincoln) bunted and reached base with McNeese scoring. Unfortunately for the Bobcats, the next two batters were out, but they had a 2-0 lead at that point.
 
Culver-Stockton would score four in the top of the third to take a 4-2 lead.
 
In  the bottom of the third, McNeese took the first pitch she saw over the left field fence for a home run to close the gap to 4-3. Holloway followed with a triple and would score when Dalrymple singled. After the end of three, the score was tied at 4-4.
 
After a scoreless fourth inning, the Wildcats plated one in the top of the fifth to lead 5-4.
 
In the bottom of the inning, after an out, McNeese reached on a walk. After the second out, Dalrymple singled to right-center with McNeese advancing to third. Holbrook followed with a single to drive in McNeese which tied the game at 5-5. Again, the Bobcats left two on base, but had knotted the game.
 
Peru State shut down Culver-Stockton in both the sixth and seventh innings before heading to the bottom of the seventh.
 
McNeese reached on a walk and went to second on a ground out. Dalrymple reached base on a Wildcat error and it was enough for McNeese to come all the way from second to score. This gave the Bobcats a 6-5 win.
 
Peru State scored their six runs on eight hits and had no errors. The Wildcats scored their five runs on five hits and had two miscues.
 
Dalrymple went three for four with two RBI to lead Peru State. Holbrook went two for three and also had two RBI.
 
Lauren Johnson (Seward) was on the mound and earned the win. Johnson threw a complete game while allowing five hits, five earned runs, and struck out five.

CULVER-STOCKTON GM 1 GAME BOOK
 
Culver-Stockton Game Two Action
 
 

Like the first game, Peru State scored first in the bottom half of the first inning.
 
Blackwell singled to short and went to third when McNeese doubled to deep right. Holloway followed with a double to deep center with Blackwell and McNeese both scoring. Again, as they had many times in the first game, Peru State would leave two base runners in scoring position, but did lead 2-0.
 
Culver-Stockton would tie it in the top of the second and then scored their final four runs in the top of the third to lead 6-2 at that point.
 
The Bobcats would not add any runs until the bottom of the fifth. Jenna Gruber (Lincoln) singled to shallow right and went to second when Blackwell singled up the middle. McNeese singled to load the bases. On Holloway's sacrifice fly, Gruber scored to make it 6-3. Peru State would again strand two base runners at the end of the inning.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, after an out, Brittany Harward (Orem, Utah) doubled to right center and went to third when Leah Quick (Kansas City, Mo.) singled to shallow right. Gruber followed with a single to left-center to score Harward to make it 6-4. Both runners advanced a base on the throw to the plate. Again, Peru State would strand runners in scoring position to end the inning.
 
The Bobcats could not score in the bottom of the seventh and the Wildcats gained the split with a 6-4 win.
 
Culver-Stockton scored their six runs on ten hits and had no errors. The Bobcats scored their four runs on 13 hits and had one error.
 
Blackwell, McNeese, Dalrymple, Quick, and Gruber each had two hits. Holloway led the team with three RBI.
 
Nicole Reznicek (Omaha) was on the mound for Peru State and suffered the loss. Reznicek allowed ten hits, six earned runs, and struck out three.

CULVER-STOCKTON GM 2 GAME BOOK
 
Peru State Parents and Senior Day
 
In between the Culver-Stockton games, Peru State celebrated its annual Parents and Senior Day. Following the recognition of the players and their parents, seniors Brittany Harward, Toni Blackwell, and Lauren Johnson were honored.

The Bobcat softball team also started a new tradition by also honoring the Culver-Stockton College seniors. This is being done as part of the NAIA's Champions of Character elements of Respect and Sportsmanship. The Wildcat seniors were also presented with flowers by the Bobcat coaches and teams.

Hastings Game One Action
 
The Broncos jumped on Peru State early in the first game by scoring two in the first and five in the second before the Bobcats got on the board.
 
After stranding two on base in the first inning, Peru State was able to score in the bottom of the second. After an out, Quick was hit by a pitch and later went to second on a passed ball. Meghan McPolin (Orland Park, Ill.) reached on a walk. After the second out, Blackwell singled to load the bases. McNeese reached base on an error and Quick scored. With the bases still loaded, the next Bobcat struck out to leave Peru State trailing 7-1.
 
Hastings would add six more in the top of the third to take a commanding 13-1 lead which would eventually be the final score after the mercy rule was invoked at the end of the fifth.
 
The Broncos scored their 13 runs on 12 hits and had one error. Peru State scored its lone run on three hits and had three miscues.
 
Blackwell, Holloway, and Quick were the only Bobcats to gain hits with McNeese being credited with the RBI.
 
Kayla Guerrero (Omaha) had her toughest day of the season on the mound. Guerrero went two and two-third innings and allowed 11 hits, 13 runs – 12 earned, and only struck out one. McNeese came in to relieve Guerrero and did a nice job. McNeese gave up just one hit and struck out three in two and one-third innings.

HASTINGS GM 1 GAME BOOK
 
Hastings Game Two Action
 
The Bobcats had to fight back in the second game after being down 6-0 as Hastings scored two runs in the first and four more in the second inning.
 
In the bottom of the second, Quick was hit by a pitch and went to second when McPolin reached on a fielder's choice. Gruber reached base on a misplayed grounder and the bases were loaded. Blackwell reached on a fielder's choice, but Quick was forced out at home. McNeese got on board with another fielder's choice, but McPolin was out at home plate. Holloway followed with a double to deep left-center to drive in Gruber and Blackwell to make it 6-2. Dalrymple reached with a walk to reload the bases. Holbrook singled to shallow center to score McNeese and Holloway to cut the deficit to 6-4.
 
Hastings would come back with a run in the top of the third to increase their lead to 7-4.
 
In the bottom of the inning, after an out, McPolin singled to shallow left, but was forced out when Gruber reached first on a fielder's choice. Blackwell singled to short with Gruber advancing to second. McNeese singled to right-center to drive in Gruber, but that ended the scoring with the 'Cats still trailing 7-5.
 
It looked bleak for Peru State after the Broncos added four more runs in the top of the fourth to make it 11-5. But, the Bobcats responded in their half of the inning.

 
Dalrymple started the inning with a walk and after an out, Chelsea Reznicek (Omaha) reached with a walk. The Hastings pitcher continued to have trouble with her control as Quick loaded the bases with a walk and then McPolin was credited with an RBI as she also was walked with Dalrymple scoring. Gruber singled to deep right-center to score Reznicek and the bases remained loaded. Blackwell earned an RBI as she walked for the third run of the inning. McNeese hit a sacrifice fly which allowed McPolin to score, but Peru State would strand two in scoring position after cutting the deficit to 11-9.
 
That would be the end of the scoring although the Bobcats did have opportunities in both the sixth and seventh inning, but could not capitalize.
 
Hastings scored their 11 runs on 12 hits and had two errors. The 'Cats scored their nine runs on ten hits and had no errors.
 
Holbrook went three for five with two RBI to lead Peru State in hitting. McNeese added two hits and two RBI while Holloway was also credited with two RBI.
 
McNeese was on the hill for the Bobcats and suffered the loss. She allowed 12 hits, 11 earned runs, and struck out one.

HASTINGS GM 2 GAME BOOK
 
Upcoming Games
 
The Bobcats are right back at it on Monday when they travel to Omaha to take on the College of St. Mary in a non-conference double header beginning at 3 p.m. Currently, the Flames are 14-10 overall.
 
Peru State will have a few days off before heading to Olathe, Kan., to face Heart opponent, MidAmerica Nazarene University. Presently, the Pioneers are 17-22 overall and are 5-5 in conference play.
 
On Sunday, April 19, the 'Cats will host their final home games of the season when Benedictine College visits the Centennial Complex Field. The Ravens, also members of the Heart, are 20-11 overall and 7-3 in conference play. They are currently in second in the conference standings.