(Peru, Neb.) – It was a good weekend for the Peru State baseball team as the Bobcats swept a four-game series with the visiting Evangel University Crusaders. This was a Western Division match-up in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.
 
The Bobcats took the Friday double header 9-4 and 2-1 and then completed the sweep on Saturday with 6-2 and 5-4 wins.
 
With the four wins, the 'Cats improved to 15-20 overall and 10-8 in the Heart. Evangel fell to 1-17 in conference play and 9-30 overall.

 
Friday Game One Action
 
In the bottom of the first, Kadyn Glass (Redlands, Calif.) singled up the middle. Edwin Rodriguez (Ponce, Puerto Rico) bunted and reached on an error with Glass moving to third on the throw. Mark McGinnity (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) singled to shallow right-center with both runners scoring to put the 'Cats up to 2-0.
 
The Crusaders scored two in the top of the second to tie it up at 2-2.
 
In the bottom of the third, after an out, Kyle Killen (Commerce City, Colo.) singled up the middle and then stole second. After a strike out, Chet Brown (Redlands, Calif.) singled thru the hole at second base to drive in Killen to make it 3-2.
 
Evangel tied it up in the top of the fourth and then took the lead in the top of the fifth by scoring one to make it 4-3.
 
Peru State came back to score a pair in the bottom of the fifth. McGinnity singled to shallow right and went to second on Killen's sacrifice bunt. Seth Thomason (Crestview, Fla.) singled to shallow right-center with McGinnity stopping at third. Austin Switzer (Tabor, Iowa) came in to run for Thomason at that point. Brown singled thru the hole at second base with McGinnity scoring and Switzer stopping at second. Caleb Dameron (Henderson, Colo.) came in to run for Brown. Jordan Silva (Lynnwood, Wash.) reached on a fielder's choice with Dameron forced out at second and Switzer moving to third. Travis Navarro (San Jacinto, Calif.) came in to run for Silva. Sterling Rupp (Grand Island) singled to short with Switzer scoring to make it 5-4.
 

The 'Cats added insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Glass reached on a walk and went to second when Rodriguez was hit by a pitch. McGinnity singled thru the hole at shortstop to load the bases. Killen singled to shallow left to score Glass and Rodriguez with McGinnity stopping at second. On the second out of the inning which was a ground out, the base runners advanced. Navarro reached on a wild throw with McGinnity and Killen both scoring on the play to make it 9-4 – the final score of the first game.
 
Peru State scored their nine runs on 13 hits and committed four errors. The Crusaders scored their four runs on five hits and had three errors.
 
McGinnity and Killen both had three hits in the first game with Brown finishing with two. All three were credited with two RBI.
 
Ryan Hirschfeld (Brush, Colo.) picked up the win after throwing six innings. Hirschfeld allowed four hits, four runs – one earned, and struck out four while winning his third game of the year. Cragin Missak (Bellevue) threw the final inning. Missak allowed one hit and struck out one.
 
Friday Game Two Action
 
It was a pitcher's duel in the second game.

 
After getting out of some potential trouble in the top of the first, Peru State scored in the bottom half of the inning. Glass tripled to deep right and then scored when Rodriguez hit a sacrifice fly to center.
 
That 1-0 lead held until the top of the third when Evangel scored one to tie it at 1-1.
 
Peru State would score the winning run in the bottom of the fifth. After an out, Jeremy Mouton (San Jacinto, Calif.) singled up the middle and went to second on a wild throw. Dameron singled to right-center to drive in Mouton to break the tie and put the 'Cats up 2-1.
 
The Bobcats would try to score some insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, but left the bases loaded. However, strong pitching preserved the win.
 
The 'Cats scored their two runs on five hits and committed one error. Evangel scored their run on five hits and also had one error.
 
Glass, McGinnity, Killen, Mouton, and Dameron each had one hit with Rodriguez and Dameron being credited with one RBI.
 
Andrew Robinson (Imperial Beach, Calif.) threw six innings for his second win of the season. Robinson scattered four hits, gave up one run which was unearned, and struck out five. Missak tossed the final inning and allowed one hit while being credited for the save.
 
Saturday Game One Action
 

All of the scoring was done in two half innings in the second game.
 
Evangel took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first and it held until the bottom of the fifth inning with Peru State having a potential threat snuffed out in the bottom of the fourth.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Rupp singled to shallow right-center to start the rally. Mouton singled thru the hole at shortstop with Rupp stopping at second. Rupp was thrown out trying to steal for the first out. Dameron stepped to plate and singled to left-center with Mouton going to third. Glass singled to shallow left-center with Mouton scoring Peru State's first run of the game. Rodriguez singled to shallow load the bases. McGinnity followed with a single to score Dameron with the bases loaded which brought up Killen with the bases loaded. On the first pitch to him, Killen hit a grand slam over the left field fence to put the 'Cats up 6-2 which would end up being the final score of the game.
 
Peru State scored their six runs on 11 hits and did not commit any errors. Evangel scored their two runs on four hits and committed two errors.
 
Rodriguez and Killen each went three for three in the game with Killen credited with four RBI. Glass and McGinnity each had one RBI.
 
O'Keefe Hall (Reno, Nev.) pitched a complete game and picked up his second win of the season. Hall allowed four hits, two earned runs, and struck out nine. Hall and his teammates were able to get the last 16 batters out in a row for Evangel.

 
Saturday Game Two Action
 
The Bobcats struck first in the final game of the series. In the bottom of the second, Brown singled shallow down the right field line to start the inning. Matthew Sontag (Davie, Fla.) came in to run for Brown who had advanced to second on the Evangel bobble. Rupp got on base as he was hit by the pitch. On a wild pitch, both base runners advanced. After the first out of the inning, Navarro tripled to right-center to drive in Sontag and Rupp. Dameron reached on a walk and then on another wild pitch, Navarro scored with Dameron moving to second. Glass followed with a double down the left field line which drove in Dameron for Peru State's fourth and final run of the inning.
 
In the top of the third, Evangel scored three to cut the lead to one. Then, in the top of the sixth inning, the Crusaders tied it with a solo home run.
 
At the end of seven innings, the teams were still tied forcing extra innings. Both teams had chances in the eighth inning but could not capitalize. Evangel had another opportunity in the ninth, but Peru State snuffed out their chance to score.
 
After the Crusaders went down in order in the top of the tenth, McGinnity singled thru the hole at shortstop to start Peru State's half of the inning. Killen then followed with a double to deep left-center to drive in McGinnity and give the 'Cats the 5-4 win.

 
The Bobcats scored their five runs on eight hits and had one error. Evangel scored their four runs on ten hits and committed three errors.
 
Glass was the only Bobcat to have more than one hit as he finished two for four. Navarro had two RBI while Glass and Killen each finished with one RBI.
 
Thomas Hernandez (Hollister, Calif.) started the game for Peru State and gave up six hits, four earned runs, and struck out two. Angus Miller (Fontana, Calif.) threw 0.1 inning and allowed one hit. Christian Sanchez (Ponce, Puerto Rico) threw 0.2 inning and did not give up a hit and struck out one. Missak tossed the final four innings and allowed just three hits while striking out four. Missak was credited with the win – his second of the year.
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State has six games scheduled for the upcoming week.

 
On Tuesday, the 'Cats will host Central Methodist (Mo.) University on Tuesday. The Eagles are 25-12 overall and 10-6 in the Heart and will finish a four-game series with William Penn on Sunday.
 
On the weekend, the Bobcats will travel to Baldwin City, Kan., to take on Baker University on Saturday and Sunday. The Wildcats are 13-23 overall and 7-11 in the Heart. This is a divisional series so the teams will play two seven-inning double headers.