(Peru, Neb.) – With a 14-0 win over Baker University in the first game of the double header on Monday, the Peru State Bobcat baseball team clinched the regular season title in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. By winning the conference regular season crown, the 'Cats secured a spot in the upcoming NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round which will be held the second week of May.
Peru State also won the second game 13-1. With the double header sweep, the Bobcats improved to 33-12 overall and 21-3 in conference play. The Wildcats fell to 15-31 and 4-18 in the Heart.
Game One Action The first game looked initially like it was going to be a pitching duel as the Bobcats scored one run in the first three innings. However, things changed as Peru State exploded for 13 runs in their final three innings at bat.
Joshua Alonzo (right) threw a ground ball to Jordan Silva at first to get the second out
of the third inningIn the bottom of the first,
Joshua Alonzo (Riverside, Calif.) reached base on a Baker error and was awarded second on the play as the ball went over the fence. Alonzo would advance to third on a sacrifice fly and then on
Randy Santiesteban's
(Hialeah, Fla.) ground out, Alonzo scored the lone run in the first three innings.
Manny Arciniega picked up his fifth win of
the season while striking out eight Peru State exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fourth to break the game open.
Seth Walston (Hemet, Calif.) singled to shallow left.
Mark McGinnity (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) bunted and reached first with Walston going to third on the play. After the first out, Walston scored on a Baker throwing error with McGinnity going to third.
Marshall Klontz (Auburn, Wash.) reached on a walk and on a ground out by Alonzo, went to second with McGinnity scoring on the play.
Kyle Killen (Commerce City, Colo.) was hit by a pitch which moved Klontz up to second. Santiesteban hit his ninth home run of the season on a 0-0 count to make it 6-0 Peru State at that time.
Scout Villanueva (Bakersfield, Calif.) followed Santiesteban with a blast of his own on a 0-0 count to make it 7-0.
The Bobcats would add more runs in the bottom of the fifth. After the first two outs,
Jordan Silva (Lynnwood, Wash.) homered over the right field fence on a 3-1 count. Klontz followed with a single thru the hole at shortstop. Alonzo moved Klontz to third with a single thru the hole at second base. Both base runners would score when Killen doubled to deep right. At the end of five innings, Peru State led 10-0.
In the bottom of the sixth, Villanueva singled shallow down the left field line. Mathew Sontag
(Davie, Fla.) entered to run for Villanueva.
Adam Quintana (Highland, Calif.) doubled to deep right-center with Sontag stopping at third. Walston was issued an intentional walk to load the bases. After two strikeouts, Klontz hit a grand slam over the right field fence on a 1-1 count for what would be the final runs of the game.
Peru State scored their 14 runs on 14 hits and did not commit any errors. Baker managed four hits and had four errors.
Villanueva went three for four to lead the Bobcat batters. Alonzo, Walston, and Klontz each added two hits. Klontz and Santiesteban were each credited with four RBI.
Manny Arciniega (Hemet, Calif.) went the distance to pick up his fifth win of the season against two losses. Arciniega gave up four hits and struck out eight in the first game win.
BAKER GAME ONE GAME BOOK 
The championship celebration after the first game win which gave the Bobcats
the Heart regular-season titleSecond Game Action Peru State jumped on the Wildcats early in the second game on their way to the 13-1 win.
Marshall Klontz hit a grand slam to end the scoring in the first game. It
was Klontz's first home run of his career.In the bottom of the first, Alonzo doubled to deep right-center and later went to third when Killen singled to right-center. Santiesteban followed with a single to left-center to drive in Alonzo with Killen stopping at third. After an out, Quintana hit a sacrifice fly that scored Killen. At the end of one inning, Peru State led 2-0.
McGinnity started the bottom of the second inning with a single to left-center. On a passed ball, McGinnity went to second. Silva doubled to shallow right, but McGinnity had to stop at third. After an out, Alonzo hit a sacrifice fly which scored McGinnity and Silva went to third. Killen was hit by a pitch and went to second on a wild pitch. Santiesteban singled to left-center to drive in both base runners. Villanueva singled to right with Santiesteban moving to third. On Quinta's single, Santiesteban scored and after two innings, Peru State was up 6-0.
After not scoring in the third inning, the Bobcats would score in each of the remaining innings.
Santiesteban started the fourth inning with a single which was followed by a home run by Villanueva over the right field fence on a 1-0 count. While that would be the only scoring in the inning, Peru State would leave the bases loaded. At the end of four complete, the 'Cats led 8-0.
In the bottom of the fifth, Killen reached on a walk to start the frame. Santiesteban would reach base on a Baker error with Killen moving to second. Villanueva reached on a walk to load the bases. Quintana earned an RBI as he walked. On a passed ball, Santiesteban scored. After Walston reached on a walk, the Bobcats went down in order to once again leave the bases loaded, but still led 10-0.
Later, in the bottom of the sixth, Alonzo started the half inning with a single thru the hole at shortstop.
Grant Hindman (Omaha) singled to center with Alonzo moving to third on the hit.
Charles Lutz (Redlands, Calif.) reached on an error with Alonzo scoring on the play and Hindman moving to third. Lutz would advance to second on a passed ball and then Villanueva was intentionally walked to load the bases. Quintana singled to center to drive in Hindman with Lutz moving to third. After an out, Walston doubled down the right field line with Lutz scoring what would be Peru State's 13
th run and final score of the game.
Baker was able to avoid being shutout as they scored a run in the top of the seventh inning.
The Bobcats scored their 13 runs on 16 hits and had no errors. Baker scored their lone run on four hits and had four miscues.
Luke Schneider won the second game for his sixth win of the season Santiesteban and Quintana each had three hits with Alonzo, Villanueva, and McGinnity each contributed two hits. Quintana had four RBI while Santiesteban added three. Villanueva was credited with two.
Luke Schneider (Monument, Colo.) threw a complete game for his sixth win of the season against no losses. Schneider allowed four hits, one earned run, and struck out four.
BAKER GAME TWO GAME BOOK Upcoming Games The Bobcats do not have any time off as they travel to play their final non-conference games as they travel to Orange City, Iowa, on Tuesday to face Northwestern College. The Red Raiders are members of the Great Plains Athletic Conference and are currently 19-25 on the season. The double header is scheduled to start at 5 p.m.
On Saturday, Peru State will host its final regular season conference games of the season. Missouri Valley College will be the opponent in a double header scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. The Vikings are 17-7 in the Heart and are 25-12 overall. Missouri Valley has won the Eastern Division so it will be match-up of the division winners. Between the games, the Bobcat seniors will be recognized.
The Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship Tournament will be held April 30 through May 5 in Joplin, Mo. Peru State has wrapped up the top seed for the tourney which will be held at the Wendell Redden Stadium.
