(Peru, Neb.) – Playing a team which had ten games already under its belt showed in the opening weekend for the Peru State Bobcat baseball team. The Bobcats were swept by Wayland Baptist (WBU) in their Friday games 8-3 and 12-6 in Plainview, Texas. On Saturday, the Bobcat bats got going in the opener as Peru State won 15-4 before falling in the final game of the series 5-2.
 
The Pioneers, who were preseason ranked 20^th in the NAIA, improved to 8-6 on the season. Peru State started its 2017 campaign with a 1-3 mark. Last year, the Bobcats dropped all for to WBU to start the season.
 
Friday Game One
 
Even though the Bobcats scored first, the early lead would not hold up. After a scoreless first inning, Mark McGinnity (Pembrook Pines, Fla.) would reach base on an error. After a fly out, McGinnity would advance to second on a ground out. Then, in his first bat in a Bobcat uniform, Jordan Kelly (Omaha) doubled to centerfield to drive in McGinnity to make it 1-0.  
The Pioneers would score two in the bottom of the second to take a lead they would not relinquish. WBU would add a run in the bottom of the third to lead 3-1. Later, in the bottom of the fifth, the Pioneers would tack on three more runs as they were aided by two Peru State errors. Through five innings, Wayland Baptist led 6-1.
 
In the top of the sixth, Edwin Muniz (Dorado, Puerto Rico) homered to left field to make it 6-2. After a ground out, Brandon Sedell (Davie, Fla.) tripled and was later brought home when Scout Villanueva (Bakersfield, Calif.) grounded out to pull Peru State within three at 6-3.
 
The Pioneers would add two more in the bottom of the sixth and went on to win 8-3.
 
WBU scored eight runs on 11 hits and committed two errors. Peru State scored their three runs on just four hits and also had two errors.
 
Muniz, Sedell, McGinnity, and Kelly each had one hit for the 'Cats while Muniz, Villanueva, and Kelly were each credited with one RBI.
 
Alberto Rosario (Carolina, Puerto Rico) started on the mound and threw 4.0 innings while suffering the loss. Rosario allowed eight hits, three earned runs, and struck out four. Cragin Missak (Bellevue) tossed 0.2 innings and allowed one hit and three runs. Tyler Wheelock (Omaha) finished Missak's inning and allowed one hit while striking out two. Alfredo Barroso (Hialeah, Fla.) threw the final inning and allowed one hit and two earned runs while striking out two.

WBU FRIDAY GM 1 GAME BOOK
 
Friday Game Two
 
Wayland Baptist jumped on the Bobcats early in the second game and controlled it throughout. The Pioneers would score four in the first, three in the second, and two in the third to lead 9-0 before Peru State would score in the top of the fourth.
 
After a ground out, McGinnity singled up the middle and went to second on a fielder's choice. Kelly singled with both runners advancing on an error with McGinnity eventually scoring on the play to make it 9-1. The Pioneers would add two more in the bottom of the fourth and now it was WBU 11-1.
 
Darren Hasch (Destin, Fla.) singled up the middle and went to second when Muniz reached base when he was hit by a pitch. Gianfranco Garlobo (Carolina, Puerto Rico) singled to the left side to load the bases. Sedell was hit by a pitch and Peru State now trailed 11-2. The Pioneers would keep pace as they added a run in the bottom half of the inning to make it 12-2.
The Bobcats would get the bats going in the top of the sixth. Kelly homered to left field to start the inning. Then after two outs, Caleb Dameron singled through the left side and came home after Garlobo tripled to centerfield. Chaz Dunn (Falls City) singled to right field to bring Garlobo home. Judsen Owens (Brantley, Ala.) singled to centerfield with Dunn moving to third. McGinnity would single up the middle to drive in Dunn and at the end of the top of the sixth, Peru State trailed 12-6.
 
Neither team would score the rest of the game.
 
WBU scored their 12 runs on 14 hits and had one error. The 'Cats scored their six runs on 12 hits and did not commit an error in the second game.
 
Garlobo, McGinnity, and Kelly each had two hits in the loss. Garlobo, Sedell, Dunn, McGinnity, and Kelly each were credited with one RBI.
 
Christian Sanchez (Ponce, Puerto Rico) started the game and lasted 1.1 innings while being tagged for the loss. Sanchez allowed five hits, six earned runs, and struck out three. Andrew Robinson (Imperial Beach, Calif.) also tossed 1.1 innings. Robinson gave up three hits and three earned runs. Matthew Sontag (Davie, Fla.) threw 1.0 inning and gave up two hits and two earned runs. Ryan Hirschfeld (Brush, Colo.) threw 1.1 innings allowing three hits, one earned run, and struck out two. Ben Carr (Omaha) threw the final inning and allowed just one hit.

WBU FRIDAY GM 2 GAME BOOK
 
Saturday Game One
 
Peru State got on the board first in the top of the first inning. After an out, Garlobo homered to left field to score the first run. McGinnity reached on an error and went to second on a wild pitch. Villanueva reached on a walk. McGinnity went to third on a passed ball, but Villanueva was thrown out trying to get back to first. McGinnity eventually scored on the play on another error to give the 'Cats a 2-0 lead.
 
WBU would score one in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to 2-1.
 
The Bobcats would produce some runs in the top of the second inning. After an out, Kelly singled to center field and went to second when Brian Ventura Castro (Carolina, Puerto Rico) singled to shortstop. Both base runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Joshua Banuelos (Moreno Valley, Calif.). Muniz walked to load the bases. Garlobo came to the plate and hit a triple down the right field line and Peru State increased its lead to 5-1.
 
After holding the Pioneers scoreless in the bottom of the second, the 'Cats scored again in the top of the third. Villanueva reached on an error and went to second when Hasch walked. Both base runners advanced on a sacrifice. Kelly doubled to left center and the runners both scored to put the Bobcats on top 7-1 at that point.
 
WBU would score a run in the bottom of the fourth to make it 7-2 and would add another in the bottom of the fifth to close the gap to 7-3.
The 'Cats would add some insurance runs in the top of the sixth. After an out, Garlobo singled to center field and then stole second. McGinnity would follow with a single with Garlobo moving to third. Jaime Del Hoyo (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) came in to run for McGinnity. Villanueva flied out, but it was deep enough to bring Garlobo home. Del Hoyo then stole second and came home when Hasch singled to left field. Peru State could not put any more runs on the board, but lead 9-3 at that point.
 
After holding the Pioneers scoreless in the bottom of the sixth, Peru State put the game out of reach in the top of the seventh. Banuelos singled down the left field line and went to second when Muniz singled up the middle. After an out, McGinnity singled to center field and Banuelos scored with Muniz going to third. McGinnity advanced to second on a wild pitch and then Villanueva walked to load the bases. Dameron came in to run for Villanueva at that point. Hasch singled to center field to drive in McGinnity and Muniz with Dameron moving to third. Hasch would advance to second on the throw. After a pitching change, Sterling Rupp (Grand Island) doubled to left center to bring home both Dameron and Hasch. Rupp would advance on a ground out to third and would score on an error. Going into the bottom of the seventh, Peru State had a commanding 15-3 lead.
 
The Pioneers would score one in the bottom of the inning to make the final score 15-4 Peru State.
 
The 'Cats scored their 15 runs on 15 hits and had one error. WBU scored its four runs on nine hits and had four errors.
 
Garlobo and Kelly each had three hits in the win while McGinnity and Hasch each adding two hits. Garlobo was credited with four RBI with Hasch had three. Rupp and Kelly each added two RBI.
 
Tanner DeGafferelly (Fort Walton, Fla.) started on the mound and picked up Peru State's first win of the season. DeGafferelly threw four complete innings and allowed five hits, three runs – two earned, and struck out one. Carr tossed two innings and allowed three hits and no runs. Wheelock threw the final inning and allowed one hit, one earned run, and struck out one.

WBU SATURDAY GM 1 GAME BOOK
 
Saturday Second Game
 
 The 'Cats scored first in the final game of the series in the top of the second. Rupp doubled to right center to start the inning and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ventura Castro. Dunn walked to put runners at the corner. Muniz reached on a fielder's choice which brought home Rupp to give the Bobcats a 1-0 lead.
 
WBU would tie it in the bottom of second and then went ahead as they added one in the bottom of the third.
Peru State would knot it back up in the top of the fourth when Ventura Castro homered to right center.
 
The Pioneers would regain the lead in the bottom of the fourth as they scored two to lead 4-2. While holding the 'Cats scoreless the rest of the game, WBU added one more run in the bottom of the sixth for the 5-2 win.
 
Wayland Baptist scored their five runs on ten hits and did not commit any errors. Peru State scored their two runs on eight hits and had one error.
 
Garlobo and Villanueva each had two hits while Muniz and Ventura Castro each credited with one RBI.
 
Javier Vasquez (Mayaguez, Puerto Rico) threw the first 3.2 innings for Peru State and suffered the loss. Vasquez allowed six hits, four earned runs, and struck out three. Hassan Westbrook (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) threw the final 2.1 innings. Westbrook allowed four hits, one run, and struck out one.

WBU SATURDAY GM 2 GAME BOOK
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will travel to Muskogee, Okla., next weekend for a four-game series with Bacone. The Warriors are 3-11 having lost seven straight.