(Peru, Neb.) – In the second round of the Heart of America Athletic Conference Baseball Championship Series, the Peru State Bobcat baseball team easily handled Graceland University with a 13-3 win.
With the victory, the Bobcats move into the third round where they will face the winner of the Missouri Valley College and MidAmerica Nazarene University contest which followed their game on Friday afternoon. Peru State improved to 36-14 while the Yellowjackets fell to 23-26.
The tournament is being played at the Wendell Redden Stadium in Joplin, Mo.
Game ActionAfter holding the Yellowjackets scoreless in the first inning, Peru State scored all the runs they would need in the bottom half of the inning.
Joshua Alonzo (Riverside, Calif.) reached on a wild throw and went to second on a ground out.
Randy Santiesteban (Hialeah, Fla.) singled to third with Alonzo stopping at third.
Scout Villanueva (Bakersfield, Calif.) reached with a walk to load the bases with
Matthew Sontag (Davie, Fla.) entering to run for Villanueva.
Adam Quintana (Highland, Calif.) doubled to deep right-center to drive in all three base runners.
Seth Walston (Hemet, Calif.) reached on another Yellowjacket error which allowed Quintana to go to third. On a wild pitch, Quintana scored to make it 4-0.
Neither team would score in the second, but Peru State would add more runs in the bottom of the third. Santiesteban doubled down the left field line and then Villanueva reached on walk with Sontag coming in to run for him. Quintana laid down a sacrifice bunt which allowed the base runners to advance. Walston followed with a single down the right field line and both base runners scored to make it 6-0. Peru State had the opportunity to really blow the game open but left the bases loaded.
Graceland would cut the lead to 6-2 by scoring a pair of runs in the top of the fourth.
In the bottom half of the inning, Peru State would add to its lead.
Kyle Killen (Commerce City, Colo.) singled up the middle and went to second when Santiesteban bunted and reached with a base hit. Both base runners advanced when Villanueva laid down a sacrifice bunt. On Quintana's single, Killen and Santiesteban both scored. Quintana would actually come around to score on a throwing error and at the end of four the 'Cats led 9-2.
The Bobcats would add more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Santiesteban singled to third and then stole second base. Villanueva reached on a walk with Sontag coming in to run again. Quintana hit another double to deep left which drove in Santiesteban and Sontag moved to third on the play. On Walston's sacrifice fly, Sontag scored. Quintana would move to third on a wild throw and would score when
Mark McGinnity (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) grounded out. At the end of six, Peru State led 12-2.
In the bottom of the eighth, Santiesteban doubled to deep left-center for his fifth hit of the game. Santiesteban would move to third on a ground out. On Quintana's sacrifice fly, Santiesteban scored Peru State's final run of the game.
Graceland would score one run in the top of the ninth, but it was not near enough as Peru State won 13-3.
The Bobcats scored their 13 runs on 12 hits and did not commit any errors. Graceland scored their three runs on nine hits and had four miscues.
Santiesteban went five for five and scored five runs in the game. Quintana went three for three and drove in seven RBI.
Jordan Silva (Lynnwood, Wash.) went two for four while Walston was credited with three RBI.
Luke Schneider (Monument, Colo.) started the game for Peru State and picked up his eighth win of the season against no losses. Schneider went seven innings and allowed eight hits, two earned runs, and struck out four.
Timothy Patterson (Valdosta, Ga.) threw the eighth inning and do not allow any hits.
Kenny Bias (Raymore, Mo.) pitched the ninth inning and gave up one hit, one earned run, and struck out one.
GRACELAND GAME BOOKUpcoming GamesThe Bobcats will play at 4 p.m. on Saturday in the third round against either MidAmerica Nazarene or Missouri Valley. With a win, Peru State moves into the title game which will take place on Monday at 4 p.m. If the Bobcats win the 4 p.m. game on Monday, they would claim both the regular season and tournament titles.
