(Peru, Neb.) – It was a cold, long day for the Battle of the 'Cats, but it proved to be a good one for the Peru State Bobcats. Peru State swept a double header with the Baker Wildcats in Baldwin City, Kans., winning game one 8-2 and then shutting out the Wildcats 4-0 in the second game.
With the pair of wins, Peru State improves to 11-4 overall and are now 4-0 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). Baker fell to 9-15 on the season and are now 2-2 in the Heart.
Bryan Ventura Castro
hit a home run in
each game
Game One Action
After a scoreless first inning, the Bobcats got on the board in the top of the second inning. After an out,
Darren Hasch (Destin, Fla.) was hit by a pitch. On a passed ball, Hasch went to second.
Jordan Kelly (Omaha) singled to third with Hasch staying at second.
Sterling Rupp (Grand Island) doubled to right-center to bring home both base runners. On another passed ball, Rupp went to third. On a sacrifice fly by
Edwin Muniz (Dorado, Puerto Rico), Rupp scored to put the 'Cats up 3-0.
In the bottom of the fourth, Baker would score a run to make it 3-1.
Peru State would respond in the top of the fifth with three more runs. Rupp doubled down the right field line with
Jaime Del Hoyo (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) coming in to run for Rupp. On a passed ball, Del Hoyo advanced to third. After an out,
Joshua Banuelos (Moreno Valley, Calif.) reached on a walk. On a wild pitch, Banuelos advanced to second with Del Hoyo staying at third.
Bryan Ventura Castro (Carolina, Puerto Rico) tripled to deep right to drive in both base runners.
Gianfranco Garlobo (Carolina, Puerto Rico) doubled up the middle to drive in Ventura Castro and at the end of the half inning, the Bobcats led 6-1.
The Wildcats would add a run in the bottom of the fifth to cut the deficit to 6-2.
Neither team would score in the sixth, but the Bobcats would add some insurance runs in the top of the seventh.
After an out, Muniz singled to shallow right and went to second on a sacrifice bunt. Ventura Castro would step to the plate and hit a two-run home run for Peru State's final runs of the game.
Peru State scored their eight runs on eight hits and had one error. Baker scored their two runs on five hits and also had one error.
Ventura Castro and Rupp each had two hits in the win. Ventura Castro drove in four runs while Rupp drove in two.
Ben Carr won the
first game on the mound
Ben Carr (Omaha) was on the mound to start the game and went six innings for the win. Carr allowed five hits, two earned runs, and struck out four.
John Tellini (Pembrook Pines, Fla.) threw the final inning and did not allow any hits and struck out one.
BAKER GM 1 GAME BOOK
Game Two Action
Ventura Castro homered to start the second game on a 1-2 count to put Peru State up 1-0.
Neither team would get on the scoreboard until the top of the fourth. Muniz reached with a walk and advanced to second on a wild throw. Kelly also reached on a walk. Rupp laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the base runners up one base.
Chaz Dunn (Falls City) also reached on a walk to load the bases.
Seth Thomason (Crestview, Fla.) singled to right-center to drive in Muniz and Kelly to put the Bobcats up 3-0.
In the top of the seventh, after an out, Banuelos singled to shallow right. Banuelos would advance to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ventura Castro. Garlobo singled up the middle to drive in Banuelos for the final run of the game.
Ventura Castro went two for three to lead the Bobcats and also drove in a run. Thomason's lone hit drove in two RBI.
Javiar Vasquez was
on the mound for the
win in game two
Javiar Vasquez
(Mayaguez, Puerto Rico) tossed the first five innings and earned the win. Vasquez gave up three hits and struck out four.
Hassan Westbrook (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) threw two innings and allowed three hits while striking out three.
BAKER GM 2 GAME BOOK
Upcoming Games
Mother Nature permitting, the Bobcats will travel to York on Tuesday to face the Panthers in a nine-inning contest beginning at 3 p.m. York is presently 15-11 on the season.
The 'Cats will have their home openers this weekend when they host Graceland (Iowa) in two double headers beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The YellowJackets, a North Division opponent, are 4-16 on the season and dropped their first four Heart contests this weekend.
On March 21, the Bobcats are to travel to Lindsborg, Kan., to take on Bethany in a nine-inning game beginning at 3 p.m. The Swedes are currently 13-8 on the year.
