(Peru, Neb.) – Heading into Monday's games, the Peru State Bobcat baseball team was still not quite sure what they had to do to make the Heart of America Athletic Conference Post-Season Championships. They knew they had to win at least one game, but were not for sure they would make it with just one win.
 
Fortunately, one win was enough as it gave the 'Cats the tie-breaker over William Penn (Iowa) University and the Bobcats will be the eighth seed in the tournament which begins Thursday in Joplin, Mo.
 
In Friday's action in Atchison, the Ravens won 7-3 and 2-1.  The second double header was to be played Sunday in Peru, but it was too soggy following the rains on Saturday. The games were moved to Atchison on Monday with the 'Cats being the home team. Peru State won the first game 8-5 and then dropped the second game 3-2. However, the one win was enough.
 
Peru State is 19-31 overall and finished 14-18 in the Heart. Benedictine finished 20-34 and 12-20 in conference play. The Bobcats won the tiebreaker over William Penn as they were 6-14 against opponents ahead of them in the tournament while the Statesmen were 6-16.
 
Friday Game One Action
 
It was one bad inning for Peru State as Benedictine scored seven runs in the bottom of the second and that was all they needed to go on for the 7-3 win.

 
Peru State did get on the board. After an out, Caleb Dameron (Henderson, Colo.) singled to shallow left-center and went to second when Kadyn Glass (Redlands, Calif.) singled to right. After another out, Mark McGinnity (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) singled to left with Dameron scoring. Kyle Killen (Commerce City, Colo.) also followed with a single to shallow center with Glass scoring. Unfortunately, the 'Cats stranded two and trailed 7-2 at that point.
 
After stranding two in the top of the sixth, Peru State did get on the board again in the top of the seventh, but it was not enough. After two outs, Glass doubled to deep left. Edwin Rodriguez (Ponce, Puerto Rico) singled to shallow right to bring Glass home for the final run of the game for the 'Cats.
 
The Ravens scored their seven runs on just five hits and did not commit any errors. Peru State scored their three runs on nine hits and had one error.
 
Glass and Killen each had two hits for the Bobcats with Rodriguez, McGinnity, and Killen each credited with an RBI.
 
Jacob Trujillo (Hollister, Calif.) started the game for Peru State and lasted just 1.2 innings and was tagged for the loss. Trujillo allowed 4 hits, 7 runs – 6 earned, and struck out 1. Thomas Hernandez (Hollister, Calif.) came in to relieve Trujillo and threw 3.1 innings. Hernandez allowed just 1 hit and struck out 2. Matthew Sontag (Davie, Fla.) threw the final inning. Sontag did not allow any hits and struck out 1.

BENEDICTINE GM 1 FRIDAY GAME BOOK
 
Friday Game Two Action
 

The second game on Friday was much more of a pitching duel. Benedictine scored one in the bottom of the first and one in the bottom of the fourth to lead 2-0.
 
Peru State would not score until the top of the seventh inning. McGinnity singled to the infield to start the inning and went to second when Killen singled to shallow left-center. Sontag came in to run for McGinnity at that point. Jordan Silva (Lynnwood, Wash.) laid down a sacrifice bunt and the base runners advanced. On a ground out, Sontag scored with Killen moving to third. However, a pop-out ended the second game at 2-1.
 
Benedictine scored their two runs on six hits and had one error. The 'Cats scored their one run on four hits and did not have any errors.

Glass and Killen led the team with two hits each. Killen, Rodriguez, and McGinnity each had one RBI.
 
Andrew Robinson (Imperial Beach, Calif.) threw five innings and took the loss. Robinson allowed six hits, two earned runs, and struck out one. Cragin Missak (Bellevue) threw the final inning. Missak did not allow any hits and struck out two.

BENEDICTINE GM 2 FRIDAY GAME BOOK
 
Monday Game One Action
 
Benedictine scored one in the top of the first before the Bobcats came to the plate in the bottom of the inning.

 
Glass singled thru the hole at shortstop to start the game and went to second when Rodriguez was hit by a pitch. McGinnity reached on an error to load the bases. Killen doubled to deep left-center with Glass and Rodriguez scoring to put the 'Cats ahead 2-1. On a wild pitch, McGinnity scored and Killen moved to third. On a Silva ground-out, Killen scored and the Bobcats led 4-1.
 
The Ravens would cut the lead to 4-2 in the top of the second.
 
Peru State would add more runs in the bottom of the third. After an out, McGinnity doubled deep down the left field line and would come home when Killen tripled to deep right-center. Silva stepped to the plate and belted a two-run home run on a 2-1 count over the left field fence and the 'Cats now led 7-2.
 
The Bobcats would add another run in the bottom of the fifth. Rodriguez singled to right-center to start the inning and later went to second when McGinnity walked. Killen would also reach on a walk to load the bases. On a double-play, Rodriguez would score what would be the final run of the game for Peru State making it 8-2.
 
Benedictine would score three runs in the top of the sixth to make it 8-5, but could not get any closer.
 
The 'Cats scored their eight runs on seven hits and had one error. The Ravens scored their five runs on four hits and also had one error.
 

McGinnity led the team going two for three. Killen and Silva each had three RBI in the win.
 
O'Keefe Hall (Reno, Nev.) started the game for Peru State and earned the win. Hall pitched four innings and allowed two hits, two earned runs, and struck out seven. Angus Miller (Fontana, Calif.) threw one inning. Miller allowed one hit and two earned runs. Christian Sanchez (Ponce, Puerto Rico) threw one inning. Sanchez allowed one hit, one earned run, and struck out two. Missak threw the final inning and did not allow any hits or runs and was credited for the save.

BENEDICTINE GM 1 MONDAY BOX SCORE

Monday Game Two Action
 
The Bobcats scored their only runs on the second game in the bottom of the first inning. After an out, Rodriguez reached on a walk and later stole second. After the second out, Killen hit a two-run home run and Peru State was up 2-0.
 
Benedictine would score one in the fourth, one in the sixth, and one in the seventh to take the 3-2 win.
 
The Ravens scored their three runs on eight hits and had one error. Peru State scored their two runs on three hits and committed three errors.

 
Rodriguez, Killen, and Silva each had one hit for Peru State. Killen was credited with two RBI to lead the team.
 
Daniel Muniz (Miami, Fla.) threw the first 5 innings. Muniz allowed six hits, one earned run, and struck out six. Sontag tossed 0.2 innings and allowed one earned run. Missak threw the final 1.1 innings and suffered the loss. Missak gave up two hits, one earned run, and struck out one.

BENEDICTINE GM 2 MONDAY BOX SCORE
 
Upcoming Games
 
By virtue of making the post-season tournament, the Bobcats will open the tournament Thursday morning at 10 a.m. against the top-seeded Avila University Eagles. The 'Cats took three of four from Avila recently.
 
A win would propel Peru State into a 4 p.m. game against either fourth-seeded MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) University or fifth-seeded Baker (Kan.) University. A loss would have the Bobcats playing at 10 a.m. on Friday against the loser of the aforementioned teams.