(Peru, Neb.) – It was not because of the lack of effort on the part of the Bobcat softball team as they dropped a double header on Friday to the visiting Benedictine College Ravens. Benedictine won game on 5-2 and then held on for a 10-9 win in the second game.
With the wins, the Ravens improved to 10-6 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference and 23-14 overall. The Bobcats fell to 10-30 overall and 2-14 in conference action and were mathematically eliminated from post-season play.
Brittany Harward reached home in the bottom of the second in the first game just ahead
of the Raven catcher's tagGame One Action After the Ravens scored one in the first half inning, Peru State came back in the bottom of the inning to tie it.
Halle Holloway (Waco) reached on an error. After the first out,
Molly Holbrook (Lincoln) reached base on a wild throw and Holloway came around to score on the play and error.
In the bottom of the second,
Brittany Harward (Orem, Utah) singled to shallow center and went to second on a stolen base. On the second out of the inning, Harward advanced to third. Then, on a wild pitch, Harward scored to put Peru State up 2-1.
Molly Holbrook had a single in the first game while Shelbie Hess
made several good plays in center field The 2-1 score stood until the top of the fifth when the Ravens plated three runs to lead 4-2. Benedictine would score an insurance run in the top of the sixth which would prove to be the final run of the game.
Benedictine scored their five runs on ten hits and had one error. The Bobcats scored their two runs on five hits and had one miscue.
Holloway, Holbrook,
Brittany McNeese (Gretna), Harward, and
Jenna Gruber (Lincoln) each had one hit to lead the Bobcats. Holbrook was credited for one RBI.
Nicole Reznicek (Omaha) threw a complete game and suffered the loss. Reznicek allowed ten hits, five runs – three earned, and struck out five.
BENEDICTINE GAME ONE GAME BOOK Game Two Action The 'Cats scored first in the second game in the bottom half of the first inning. Holloway singled up the middle to start things off. On the second out, Holloway advanced to second.
Cheyenne Dalrymple (Stockton, Calif.) singled to shallow left to drive in Holloway and the Bobcats led 1-0.
Neither team would score in the second, but the Ravens would plate three runs in the top of the third to go up 3-1.
In the bottom of the third, Peru State would tie it up.
Shelbie Hess (Phoenix) reached on an infield single and then went to second on a stolen base. Holloway would move Hess to third with a single.
Leah Quick would follow with a single of her own and Hess would score. Then on a throwing error, the other runners advanced a base. On the second ground out in the inning, Holloway would score and after the final out, Peru State had tied the game at 3-3.
Chelsea Reznicek makes a play at second base while Jenna Gruber
singles in the first gameBenedictine would get their bats going in the top of the fourth to score another three runs to lead 6-3. The Bobcats kept the Ravens from scoring more as they were able to get a ground out and then caught a base runner in between second and third for the final out of the inning.
After a scoreless fifth, the Ravens added two in the top of the sixth to stretch their lead to 8-3.
In the bottom of the sixth, Dalrymple reached on a walk and then McNeese hit a blast over the center field fence on a 1-1 count to cut the deficit to 8-5. Unfortunately, Peru State could not add any more runs in the sixth.
Benedictine added two more runs in the top of the seventh to lead 10-5. However, the 'Cats did not go down without a fight.
Holloway singled to center and went to second when Quick singled down the right field line.
Meghan McPolin (Orland Park, Ill.) came in to run for Quick at that point. Peru State pulled off a double steal to move the base runners to second and third. After an out, Dalrymple reached on a walk to load the bases. McNeese singled to left with Holloway scoring the first run of the inning. Harward followed with another single and McPolin scored to make it 10-7.
Chelsea Reznicek (Omaha) reached on a fielder's choice while Dalrymple scored and Harward was forced out at second. Gruber singled to second to score McNeese and Peru State was within one at 10-9. But, that would be it for the Bobcats as the last batter grounded out.
The Ravens scored their ten runs on 12 hits and committed one error. Peru State scored their nine runs on 14 hits and had five miscues.
Holloway, Quick, and Harward each had three hits to lead Peru State. McNeese had two hits, one of which was a home run. McNeese was credited with three RBI while Dalrymple had two.
Brittany McNeese high fives Coach Mathews after her two-run
home run blast in the bottom of the sixth inning in the
second game Lauren Johnson (Seward) threw a complete game and suffered the loss. Johnson allowed 12 hits, ten runs – six earned, and struck out three.
BENEDICTINE GAME TWO GAME BOOK Upcoming Games Peru State was scheduled to play Central Methodist University on Saturday, but the games were moved to Sunday due to the anticipated bad weather in Fayette, Mo. Game time for the double header is 1 p.m.
The double header will be the final game of the year for Peru State as they were eliminated from the post-season as a result of the other contests in the conference on Friday.
