(Peru, Neb.) – With their double header win over the visiting Baker University Wildcats on Friday, the Peru State baseball team claimed at least a share of the Heart of America Athletic Conference regular-season title.
 
By winning two on Friday, the 'Cats improved to 31-12 overall and 19-3 in the Heart. Baker fell to 15-29 on the season and 4-16 in conference play.
 
Peru State can win the title outright on Monday when the double header originally scheduled for Saturday with Baker is resumed. The Bobcats only need one game to capture the crown and secure a berth in the national tournament. In addition, a Missouri Valley College loss to Culver-Stockton College would also give the 'Cats the title.
 
The Heart regular season winner receives an automatic bid as does the post-season conference tournament winner.

 
Game One Action
 
The Bobcats were able to get the Wildcats out with just one run in the top of the inning after Baker scored one run to take an early 1-0 lead.
 
In the bottom of the first, Peru State scored three runs which would be actually all they would need to take the first game. Joshua Alonzo (Riverside, Calif.) singled to shallow right to start the inning, but was caught stealing. Kyle Killen (Commerce City, Calif.) reached with a walk and went to second when Randy Santiesteban (Hialeah, Fla.) singled to third. Scout Villanueva (Bakersfield, Calif.) took the first pitch he saw over the right field fence to make it 3-1 Peru State.
 
The Bobcats would add another three-spot in the bottom of the second inning. Jordan Silva (Lynnwood, Wash.) tripled to start the inning. Marshall Klontz (Auburn, Wash.) would reach on a walk. Alonzo ground out, but Silva scored and Klontz went to second. Killen singled to short with Klontz being tagged out trying to go to third. Santiesteban doubled to right-center with Killen scoring. This time Baker intentionally walked Villanueva. Adam Quintana (Highland, Calif.) singled to short with Santiesteban scoring on a Wildcat error. At the end of two, the 'Cats led 6-2.
 
Neither team would score in the third, but the Bobcats would add one run in the bottom of the fourth. After two outs, Villanueva doubled deep down the left field line. Brandon Melendez (Miramar, Fla.) entered to pinch run for Villanueva and would score when Quintana singled to right-center. After four complete innings, Peru State led 7-1.
 
Peru State would add another run in the bottom of the fifth. After an out, Klontz singled to center and eventually would go to third on a wild throw. Alonzo also reached on a walk and then on a double steal, Alonzo went to second, but Klontz was caught trying to steal home. Killen singled to right-center and Alonzo scored to make it 8-1.
 
Baker would score one run in the top of the sixth to cut the lead to 8-2.
 
 

In the bottom of the sixth, the 'Cats would add more runs to their total. After an out, Seth Walston (Hemet, Calif.) singled to right-center. Mark McGinnity (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) singled to left-center with Walston stopping at second. Silva followed with a single to right to load the bases. Klontz singled to shallow right-center with Walston and McGinnity scoring and Silva stopping at second. Alonzo would reach on an error to keep the bases loaded. Killen singled to short with Silva scoring what would end up being the final run of the game. At that point, Peru State led 11-2, the final score of the game as Baker was not able to score in the top of the seventh.
 
Peru State scored its 11 runs on 19 hits and committed three errors. The Wildcats scored their two runs on six hits and had six miscues.
 
Killen and Silva each went three for four in the game while Santiesteban, Villanueva, Quintana, Walston, McGinnity, and Klontz each adding two hits. Villanueva had three RBI while Killen and Klontz each and two RBI.
 
Miguel Navarro (San Jacinto, Calif.) threw a complete game for the win, his fifth of the season. Navarro allowed six hits, two runs – one earned, and struck out eight.

BAKER GAME ONE GAME BOOK
 
Game Two Action
 
All of the scoring in the second game came in the bottom of the second inning. Villanueva reached on a walk with Melendez entering to run for him. After an out, Walston singled to right with Melendez stopping at second. On a wild pitch Melendez came all the way home to score with Walston stopping at second. On a ground out, Walston advanced to third. Silva doubled deep down the left field line with Walston scoring. On a Chase Phillips (Highland, Calif.) single to right-center, Silva scored to make it 3-0, the eventual final score.
 
Peru State had one other scoring opportunity; otherwise, it was pretty much a pitching duel.
 
The Bobcats scored their three runs on ten hits and did not commit any errors. Baker was held to just three hits and also did not have any errors.

 
Alonzo and Walston each had two hits in the game while Silva and Phillips were each credited with one RBI.
 
Quintana was on the mound for the Bobcats and threw another complete game shutout. Quintana allowed just three hits and struck out 12. In the process of throwing another shutout, Quintana lowered his earned run average to 0.57 for the season while picking up his sixth win.

BAKER GAME TWO GAME BOOK
 
Upcoming Games
 
If Mother Nature permits, Peru State will host Baker on Monday for its second double header beginning at 1 p.m. at the Centennial Complex Field.
 
On Tuesday, the Bobcats will play its last pair of non-conference games when they travel to Orange City, Iowa, to take on Northwestern College. The Red Raiders are 19-23 overall and they are 8-6 in their conference play.
 
The final set of games for the 'Cats in the regular season will be on Saturday, April 25, when Peru State hosts Missouri Valley College. The Vikings are 16-7 in conference play and are 24-12 overall. Missouri Valley is playing at Culver-Stockton on Saturday and has won six games in a row.