(Peru, Neb.) – While having opportunities to take a couple more games in their series with MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) University (MNU) on the weekend and not doing so, the Bobcat baseball team was able to salvage the fourth game of the two-day double header.
 
MNU won both games on Friday 11-7 and 5-1 and took the opener on Saturday 12-3 before Peru State won the final game of the series 7-6 with a walk-off balk called on the Pioneer pitcher in the bottom of the eighth.
 
The 14^th-ranked Pioneers improved to 24-7 overall and 9-5 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference while the 'Cats are now 11-20 overall and 6-8 in the Heart action.
 
Friday Game 1
 
The Pioneers jumped off to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but the 'Cats responded with the same amount in the bottom of the inning.
 
Kadyn Glass (Redlands, Calif.) doubled to left-center to start the inning. After an out, Mark McGinnity (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) doubled to deep right-center and Glass scored. Seth Thomason (Crestview, Fla.) was hit by a pitch and then Kyle Killen (Commerce City, Colo.) loaded the bases with a walk. After another out, Chet Brown (Redlands, Calif.) hit a grand slam over the right field fence on a 3-1 count to tie the game at 5-5.
MNU would regain the lead in the top of the second by scoring one run. Peru State would again respond and this time took the lead with the Pioneers' top hurler on the mound.
 
Glass doubled again, this time to deep right-center and then went to third on a sacrifice bunt. McGinnity tripled deep down the right field line to drive in Glass to tie the game. After another out, McGinnity would score on a passed ball to lead 7-6.
 
However, that would all that Peru State would score and MNU would come back to tie it in the top of the fourth and then take the lead with three runs in the sixth. The Pioneers would tack on another run in the top of the seventh for the 11-7 win.
 
MNU scored 11 runs on 13 hits and committed one error. Peru State scored their seven runs on eight hits and had four errors.
 
Glass, McGinnity, and Brown each had two hits in the game. Brown led the team with four RBI while McGinnity added two RBI.
 
Andrew Robinson (Imperial Beach, Calif.) started on the mound for Peru State and was tagged for the loss. Robinson pitched 5.1 innings and gave up 10 hits, 9 earned runs, and struck out 6. Angus Miller (Fontana, Calif.) threw 1.1 innings and allowed 3 hits, 1 earned run, and struck out 2. Christian Sanchez (Ponce, Puerto Rico) threw .1 innings and allowed 1 run on no hits.

MNU FRIDAY GM 1 GAME BOOK
 
Friday Game 2
 
The 'Cats scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first. Glass was hit by a pitch and went to first with Chaz Dunn (Falls City) coming in to run for Glass. Dunn went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Edwin Rodriguez (Ponce, Puerto Rico) and then scored with McGinnity hit a double deep down the right field line.
 
MNU tagged the Bobcats for four runs in the top of the second and then added another run in the top of the sixth for the 5-1 win.
 
The Pioneers scored their five runs on six hits and had one error. Peru State scored their one run on three hits and committed no errors.
 
McGinnity had two of Peru State's three hits which were both doubles. Caleb Dameron (Henderson, Colo.) had the other hit. McGinnity was credited with one RBI.
 
Ryan Hirschfeld (Brush, Colo.) threw a complete game and suffered the loss. Hirschfeld allowed 6 hits, 5 earned runs, and struck out 4.
MNU FRIDAY GM 2 GAME BOOK
 
Saturday Game 1
 
Neither team scored in the first two innings with both teams scoring two in the third inning.
 
Peru State knotted the game in the bottom of the third. After an out, Dunn walked and went to second when Killen walked. McGinnity singled to shallow right to drive in Dunn and Killen eventually scored on the play on an error by the Pioneers.
 
MNU would take the lead for good in the top of the fourth with two runs to lead 4-2 at that point. In the bottom of the fifth, Peru State would cut the lead to one. Dunn singled to shallow right and went to second when Killen walked. On a balk, both base runners advanced one base. McGinnity hit a sacrifice fly to center which was deep enough for Dunn to score and Killen to go to third.
 
The 'Cats could not get any additional runs during the rest of the game. The Pioneers added an insurance run in the top of the sixth to make it 5-3 before exploding for seven in the top of the seventh for the 12-3 win.
 
MNU scored their 12 runs on ten hits and had two errors. The Bobcats scored their three runs on four hits and also had two errors.
 
McGinnity, Jordan Silva (Lynnwood, Wash.), Thomason, and Dunn each had one hit in the loss.
 
O'Keefe Hall (Reno, Nev.) threw the first 6.1 innings for Peru State and took the loss. Hall allowed 7 hits, 8 runs – 7 earned, and struck out 10. Miller tossed the final .2 inning and gave up 3 hits and 4 earned runs.

MNU SATURDAY GM 1 GAME BOOK
 
Saturday Game 2
 
Peru State would score first in the final game of the series. In the bottom of the first, Jeremy Mouton (San Jacinto, Calif.) singled thru the hole at shortstop and went to second with a stolen base. On a wild pitch, Mouton moved to third and eventually came home on a sacrifice fly by Rodriguez.

 
That lead was short-lived as MNU scored five in the top of the second to go up 5-1.
 
The 'Cats cut the deficit in the bottom of the second. Thomason was hit by a pitch and went to second when Sterling Rupp (Grand Island) reached on a walk. The base runners advanced on a passed ball. Dunn reached on a walk to load the bases. After a pitching change, Dameron reached on a fielder's choice with Thomason scoring and Dunn forced out at second. Mouton came to the plate and singled thru the hole at shortstop with Rupp scoring to make it 5-3.
 
In the bottom of the third, the Bobcats got back on the board. After a strikeout, Brown singled up the middle. Matthew Sontag (Davie, Fla.) came in to run for Brown and could have potentially scored on the next play as Thomason doubled to deep right-center. But, Sontag slipped on the grass rounding third but was able to make it back safely to the bag. Rupp would single to shallow right-center and Sontag did score to make it 5-4.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Peru State would tie it. Dameron was hit by a pitch and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Mouton. Dameron went to third on a single by Rodriguez to shallow center. Killen hit a sacrifice fly to left and Dameron was able to score to knot the score at 5-5.
 
Neither team scored in the fifth, but both scored in the sixth. The Pioneers scored one in the top of the inning to regain the lead.
 
Then, in the bottom of the sixth, after an out, Mouton singled up the middle. Rodriguez got on board when he was hit by a pitch with Mouton going to second. Killen singled thru the hole at shortstop and Mouton tied the game at 6-6.
 
Neither team scored in the seventh to force an extra inning. After a double by the Pioneers, to lead off the inning, the Bobcats were able to shut down MNU without scoring.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, Mouton reached on a walk and went to second when Rodriguez bunted and reached on a fielder's choice. Killen was hit by a pitch to load the bases. On the next pitch, MNU's hurler was called for a balk and Mouton came in to score the winning run.
 
Peru State scored their seven runs on 12 hits and won despite committing four errors. MNU scored their six runs on five hits and did not have any errors.
 
Mouton led the team with three hits in the leadoff role. Killen had two RBI while Mouton, Rodriguez, Rupp, and Dameron were each credited with one RBI.
 
Thomas Hernandez (Hollister, Calif.) started on the hill for the 'Cats and only lasted 1.2 innings. Hernandez gave up just 2 hits and 5 runs – all of which were unearned and struck out 1. Jacob Trujillo (Hollister, Calif.) came in and threw a good 6.1 innings. Trujillo earned the win while allowing 3 hits, 1 earned run, and struck out 4.

MNU SATURDAY GM 2 GAME BOOK
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State was scheduled to play Doane College in a home non-conference double header on Tuesday, but the games have been cancelled and will not be made up as the teams do not have any common open dates.
 
The Bobcats will be back in action at home on Friday and Saturday when they host Evangel (Mo.) University in conference play. The Crusaders are 9-26 overall and have only won one conference game and are presently 1-13 in the Heart. Games will start at 1 p.m. both days.
 
Peru State will then be at home on April 12 when they host Central Methodist (Mo.) University in a Heart cross-division double header beginning at 1 p.m. The Eagles are 23-9 and 8-4.