(Peru, Neb.) – While the Bobcat softball team really needed a sweep of the visiting Graceland team, they did manage to gain a split of the double header on Saturday.
Peru State took game one 4-3 in eight innings and dropped the nightcap 3-2.
With the split, the 'Cats are now 11-33 overall and 3-13 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The Yellowjackets are 11-19 and 4-14 in the Heart.
The 11 wins on the season does better last year's mark of ten wins.
Nicole Reznicek won her sixth
game of the season for Peru State
Game One Action
Neither team scored through the first three innings. In the bottom of the fourth, Peru State was able to get on the board.
Halle Holloway (Waco) doubled to deep left-center to start the inning.
Sydney Armbruster (Falls City) singled down the left field line with Holloway stopping at third. After an out, Armbruster stole second base. Another out followed before
Leah Quick (Kansas City, Kan.) singled up the middle to drive in the base runners and gave Peru State a 2-0 lead.
Graceland would get on the board in the top of the sixth as they scored three runs to take a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, Peru State was able to tie it up. After two outs,
Kayla Guerrero (Omaha) single thru the hole at second base.
Alexandra Kenney (Milford) came in to run for Guerrero at that point.
Morgan Ritchie (Lincoln) followed with a triple to deep right-center to drive in Kenney to tie the score at 3-3.
Neither team scored in the seventh so the game went into extra innings. The 'Cats kept out of trouble in the top of the eighth as they kept Graceland from scoring as they had a running on third.
In the bottom of the eighth, after two outs, Armbruster singled to shallow center and then Guerrero reached base on a Yellowjacket error with Armbruster advancing to second. Ritchie came up big again, this time with a double to deep center to drive in Armbruster for the winning run.
Peru State scored their four runs on nine hits and did not commit an error. The Yellowjackets scored their three runs on five hits and had one error.
Armbruster, Ritchie, and
Hailey Davis (Lincoln) each had two hits. Ritchie and Quick each were credited with two RBI.
Nicole Reznicek (Omaha) through a complete game for her sixth win of the season. Reznicek allowed five hits, three earned runs, and had eight strikeouts.
GRACELAND GM 1 GAME BOOK
Game Two Action
The 'Cats did take the early lead in the second game in the bottom of the second. Ritchie provided that run with a home run over the center field fence on a 0-0 count.
Morgan Ritchie heads for the home plate as her Bobcat teammates come out to celebrate with her
Graceland would score one in the top of the third and one in the top of the fourth to lead 2-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, it appeared the Bobcats could put several runs on the board. Ritchie singled to shallow left-center to start the inning. After an out,
Jenna Gruber (Lincoln) singled to shallow right with Ritchie going to third. Gruber would steal a base to give Peru State two runners in scoring position. Davis singled to shallow right-center with Ritchie scoring to tie it at 2-2. Unfortunately, that would be all the 'Cats would score as they eventually popped into a double play to end the inning.
Sydney Armbruster catches a pop-up in the second game with
Halle Holloway looking on. Armbruster finished with four hits
on the day.
The Yellowjackets would score what would be the eventual winning run in the top of the sixth.
Graceland scored their three runs on ten hits and had one error. The Bobcats scored their two runs on six hits and committed two errors.
Armbruster and Ritchie each had two hits to lead the team. Ritchie had one RBI while Davis added the other RBI.
Ritchie pitched a complete game and was tagged for the loss. She allowed ten hits, three runs – two earned, and struck out three.
GRACELAND GM 2 GAME BOOK
Upcoming Games
Mother Nature forced the cancellation of Peru State's Sunday double header at Hastings College.
Weather could impact the Bobcats' Tuesday's home games with Grand View (Iowa) University. The Vikings are 32-8 and are 14-4 in conference play. The double header is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.
On Saturday, Peru State is scheduled to host the Culver-Stockton (Mo.) College Wildcats at 2 p.m. in a double header. Culver-Stockton is 25-15 on the year and 11-7 in the Heart.
