(Peru, Neb.) – The Peru State softball team swept a home non-conference double header over visiting Grace University on Friday. On Saturday, the Bobcats returned to Heart of America Athletic Conference action and fell to Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan.
 
The 'Cats swept the Royals 7-2 and 6-1 in contests which featured a coach and former players. The Royals' head coach Kathleen Brown and assistant coach Tabitha Foster both played for Mathews from 2004-07.
 
With the wins, Peru State improved to 9-21 while Grace fell to 3-32 in their inaugural season of softball for the team from Omaha.

 
On Saturday, the Ravens won 10-1 and 14-6 to improve to 13-13 overall and 3-3 in the Heart. With the losses, the 'Cats fell to 9-23 overall and 2-8 in conference play.
 
Grace Game 1
 
Peru State scored their seven runs before Grace got onto the scoreboard. The Bobcats scored three in the first, two in the second, one in the third, and one in the fourth before the Royals scored two in the top of the sixth for the final 7-2 score.
 
The 'Cats scored their seven runs on 11 hits and had one error. Grace scored their two runs on seven hits and committed three errors.
 
Taylor Moya (Keenesburg, Colo.) went three for three and scored two runs to lead the Bobcat hitters. Halle Holloway (Waco) and Jenna Gruber (Lincoln) each added two hits. Sara Trojan's lone hit produced two RBI while Holloway, Morgan Ritchie (Lincoln), and Erin Snyder (Omaha) each had one RBI.
 
Moya pitched a complete game. Over the seven innings, Moya scattered seven hits, gave up two runs – one earned, and struck out six.

GRACE GM 1 BOX SCORE
 
Grace Game 2
 

Again in the second game, Peru State scored runs before allowing Grace to score. The Bobcats put up two runs in the bottom of the first and two in the bottom of the third to lead 4-0 before the Royals would score one in the top of the fourth. The 'Cats would add two runs in the bottom of the fifth for the final 6-1 score.
 
Peru State scored their six runs on nine hits and had two errors while Grace scored their lone run on four hits and also had two errors.
 
Chelsea Reznicek (Omaha) and Madison Bowman (Geneva) each had two hits in the game to lead Peru State. Bowman led the team with three RBI with Hailey Davis (Lincoln) adding the other RBI.
 
Kayla Guerrero (Omaha) threw the entire game to pick up the win. Guerrero allowed four hits and one earned run while striking out two.

GRACE GM 2 BOX SCORE
 
Benedictine Game 1
 
The Ravens scored one in the bottom of the first and added three more in the bottom of the third to lead 4-0 at that point.
 
In the top of the fourth, Holloway reached base on an error and was moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt squeeze laid down by Sydney Armbruster (Falls City). On a wild pitch, Holloway moved to third. Guerrero would single down the left field line and Holloway scored to cut the lead the 4-1.
 
Benedictine would score two in the bottom of the inning and then added one in the fifth and three in the sixth to take game one 10-1.
 
The Ravens scored their ten runs on 14 hits and had three errors. Peru State scored their lone run on just two hits and had no errors.
 
Guerrero and Ritchie had the lone hits in the game while Guerrero was credited with one RBI.

 
Ritchie was on the mound and suffered the loss while throwing five innings. Ritchie gave up 14 hits, ten earned runs, and struck out three.

BENEDICTINE GM 1 GAME BOOK
 
Benedictine Game 2
 
Benedictine scored two in the first and one in the second before Peru State scored in the top of the third inning.
 
Chelsea Reznicek singled to shallow right to start the inning and went to second when Hannah Mitchel (Nebraska City) singled to shallow right-center. Holloway followed with a single to shallow right-center as well with Reznicek moving third, but Mitchel being thrown out at second. On a passed ball, Reznicek was caught stealing, with Holloway going to second on the play. Armbruster singled to left-center to drive in Holloway. Guerrero followed with a double to deep right-center to bring home Armbruster and the 'Cats found themselves down just 3-2.
 
The Ravens came back to push across five runs in the bottom of the third to increase their lead to 8-2 at that point.
 
Cheyenne Dalrymple (Stockton, Calif.) started Peru State's fourth inning with a double to deep right-center. On the second out of the inning, Dalrymple was able to move to third on a ground out. Reznicek singled to shallow center to bring Dalrymple home. Mitchel followed with a single with Reznicek stopping at second. Holloway reached on a walk and then Armbruster reached on an error which scored Reznicek. Guerrero singled to shallow right with the hit being deep enough to score Mitchel and Holloway and Armbruster moving to third. After a pitching change, the next Bobcat struck out, but Peru State was back in the game only trailing 8-6.
 
Unfortunately, that was all the 'Cats would score in the game, but they did leave base runners aboard in the top of the sixth. Benedictine added two runs in the fourth, one in the fifth, and three in sixth to take a 14-6 win.

 
The Ravens scored their 14 runs on 18 hits and committed one error. Peru State scored their six runs on 11 hits and committed three errors.
 
Armbruster, Guerrero, Dalrymple, and Reznicek each had two hits in the game. Guerrero was credited with three RBI with Armbruster adding two and Reznicek finishing with one.
 
Nicole Reznicek (Omaha) started on the mound for the 'Cats and was tagged for the loss after throwing just 2.2 innings. Reznicek gave up 11 hits, 8 earned runs, and struck out 1. Moya threw the final 3 innings allowing 7 hits and 6 runs – 5 earned.

BENEDICTINE GM 2 GAME BOOK
 
Upcoming Games
 
The Bobcats will host a pair of non-conference double headers on Wednesday and Thursday.
 
On Wednesday, the 'Cats will host Concordia University with the games beginning at 3 p.m. The Bulldogs are presently 18-7 with three of the losses coming in their last six games.
 
Nebraska Wesleyan University will be the opponent on Thursday with the make-up double header scheduled to start at 2 p.m. The Prairie Wolves are currently 9-7 on the season and have won their last three games in a row.
 
Then, on the weekend, the 'Cats will be on the road both Saturday and Sunday. Peru State will head to Springfield, Mo., on Saturday and will be back in conference action when they take on Evangel University. The Crusaders are off to a good start this season and are 21-7 overall and 7-1 in the Heart and have won their last five games in a row.
 
On Sunday, Peru State will play York College in York. The Panthers, who used to be in the same former conference as the Bobcats, are currently 10-20 on the year.