(Peru, Neb.) – A ten-game losing streak was broken when the Bobcat softball team took the first game of a Heart of America Athletic Conference double header with Graceland University on Tuesday.
Peru State won the first game 8-7 win with a walk-off hit, but dropped the second contest 6-1.
With the split, the Bobcats are 8-18 overall and are now 1-7 in the Heart. Graceland remained even in conference play at 3-3 and is now 8-14 for the year.
Toni Blackwell hit her first home run of the
season in her first at bat Game One Action The 'Cats struck first in the bottom of the first when
Toni Blackwell (Papillion) hit her first home run of the season over the center field fence on a 2-0 count.
Brittany McNeese (Gretna) doubled to deep left and eventually scored after two outs when
Molly Holbrook (Lincoln) reached base on a wild throw. At the end of the first inning, Peru State led 2-0.
Graceland tied it up in the top of the second, but the Bobcats responded in the bottom half of the inning.
Brittany Harward (Orem, Utah) singled to the third base side and scored when
Kayla Guerrero (Omaha) doubled to right-center. After an out, Blackwell singled and Guerrero advanced to third. After another out, Blackwell stole second.
Halle Holloway (Waco) tripled to deep right-center to drive in both Guerrero and Blackwell.
Cheyenne Dalrymple (Stockton, Calif.) singled to shallow left to score Holloway. Dalrymple advanced to second on an error and Holbrook reached on a walk. After a pitching change,
Leah Quick (Kansas City, Mo.) singled to left to bring home Dalrymple. At the end of two innings, the 'Cats led 7-2.
The Yellowjackets scored three in the top of the third to close the gap to 7-5. Neither team would score in the fourth or fifth innings.
Graceland would add one in the top of the sixth and then would tie it in the top of the seventh.
Kayla Guerrero (l) is congratulated by teammates after her game-
winning hit in the first game of the double header Holloway started the bottom of the seventh with a single. After an out, Holbrook reached base on a fielder's choice with Holloway being forced out at second. Quick followed with a single to center with Holbrook advancing to second. Harward singled thru the hole at shortstop to load the bases. The lone freshman for Peru State, Guerrero, stepped to the plate, and produced the game-winning single with Holbrook scoring the winning run.
The Bobcats scored their eight runs on 13 hits and had one error. Graceland scored their seven runs on 15 hits and had two errors.
Harward went three for four to lead the team while Blackwell, Holloway, Quick, and Guerrero each adding two hits. Guerrero led the team with two RBI.
Guerrero started on the mound and went into the seventh inning. Guerrero allowed 14 hits, seven earned runs, and struck out one.
Nicole Reznicek (Omaha) was responsible for the final three outs and earned the win. Reznicek allowed just one hit and struck out one.
GRACELAND GAME ONE GAMEBOOK Game Two Action The Yellowjackets' pitching was effective in the second game as Graceland held the Bobcats to just three hits.
Nicole Reznicek was credited
for the win in the first gameGraceland scored one in the top of the first and three in the top of the third to take a 4-0 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, Harward singled to second to start the inning. Harward advanced on a ground out and then went to third on a wild pitch. After the second out, Harward scored as Blackwell reached base on a Graceland error. That would be the only run Peru State would get although they had opportunities in a couple other innings.
The Yellowjackets scored their six runs on 11 hits and had two errors. Peru State scored their one run on three hits and committed one error.
Harward had two of Peru State's three hits while
Chelsea Reznicek (Omaha) had the other hit. Blackwell was credited for the RBI.
Nicole Reznicek pitched a complete game and was tagged for the loss. Reznicek allowed 11 hits, six earned runs, and struck out four.
GRACELAND GAME TWO GAMEBOOK Upcoming Games The Bobcats will host conference opponent Culver-Stockton College on Saturday at 2 p.m. for a double header. Currently, the Wildcats are just above Peru State in the standings with a 2-6 mark and are 9-13 overall.
Then, on Sunday, the 'Cats will host the Broncos from Hastings College in a non-conference double header. Presently, Hastings is 18-12 on the season.
On Monday, April 13, Peru State will play its final non-conference games of the season when they travel to Omaha to take on the College of St. Mary. At this point in the season, the Flames are 10-8.
Brittany Harward led Peru State with five hits in seven attempts
against Graceland on Tuesday
