(Peru, Neb.) – The Peru State softball team pounded out nine home runs, including four by Rachel Carlos (Kaneohe, Hawaii), in route to a double header split with William Penn (WPU) in Oskaloosa, Iowa, on Tuesday.
 
Carlos hit three home runs in the second game which is believed to have tied a single-game mark set by Rachel (Duede) Richardson against Doane in the mid-90's.
 
The Bobcats won the first game 7-6 and fell in the second game 11-9 in ten innings. With the split, Peru State is now 9-12 overall and 4-2 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). The Statesmen are 13-10 overall and now are 1-3 in the Heart.
 
Game One Action
 

Neither team scored until the bottom of the third inning when William Penn scored two runs to take a 2-0 lead.
 
In the top of the fourth, Alexis Paulo-Meyers (Waianae, Hawaii) homered on the first pitch she saw to cut the deficit to 2-1. Carlos came to the plate next and did the same thing to tie it at 2-2. After two outs, Tyler Farrell (Brandon, Fla.) doubled to center. Hannah Ciatto (Largo, Fla.) followed with a single to drive in Farrell, with Ciatto being out trying to stretch the play. At that point, the Bobcats led 3-2.
 
Peru State would score the rest of its runs in the fifth inning. Sandy Garcia (Strasburg, Colo.) doubled to left-center to start the inning. Taylor Moya (Keenesburg, Colo.) reached on an error with Garcia moving to third. Garcia would score on Megan Hartman's (Lincoln) sacrifice fly to left-center. Moya would move to second on a wild pitch. Paulo-Meyers reached on a walk. After another out, Leah Quick (Kansas City, Kan.) hit a three-run home run to left on a 0-0 count to put the 'Cats up 7-2.
 
The Statesmen would score two in the bottom of the fifth and then two more in the bottom of the seventh, but it was not enough as Peru State prevailed 7-6.
 
Peru State scored their seven runs on nine hits and had three errors. William Penn scored their six runs on ten hits and had one miscue.
 
Farrell was the only Bobcat to have more than one hit as she went two for two. Quick came up with the three RBI to lead the team.

 
Nicole Reznicek (Omaha) picked up her fifth win of the season as she tossed a complete game. Reznicek allowed ten hits and six runs – four earned.

WILLIAM PENN GM 1 GAME BOOK
 
Game Two Action
 
The second game was a back-and-forth contest which ended up lasting ten innings.
 
Peru State would strike first in the top of the second inning when Carlos homered to deep right-center to start the inning. Quick followed with a home run as well to put the 'Cats up 2-0.
 
WPU would tie it in the bottom of the third at 2-2.
 
In the top of the fourth, Carlos hit another home run to put Peru State up 3-2. The Bobcats had other chances to score in the half inning, but left two on base.
 
In the top of the fifth, after two outs, Paulo-Meyers would reach on a walk. Carlos would hit her third home run of the second game to put the 'Cats ahead 5-2 at that point. Quick followed with a home run and the Bobcats now led 6-2.

 
The Statesmen would score one in the bottom of the inning to make it 6-3.
 
After Peru State left two in scoring position in the top of the sixth and not scoring, William Penn plated six in the bottom of the inning to take their first lead at 9-6.
 
The Bobcats would respond in the top of the seventh. Paulo-Meyers singled to start the inning and Carlos drove her in with a double to make it 9-7. After an out, Morgan Ritchie (Lincoln) entered to pinch hit and came up with a two-run home run to tie the game at 9-9.
 
The 'Cats would hold the Statesmen from scoring in the bottom of the inning to force extra innings.
 
Neither team would score in the eighth or ninth innings. After holding the Bobcats scoreless in the top of the tenth, the Statesmen would come up with a two-out, two-run home run to win the game.
 
William Penn scored its 11 runs on 16 hits and had two errors. The Bobcats scored their nine runs on 14 hits and had one miscue.
 
Carlos went four for five and had five RBI with her three home runs. Quick was three for five with two RBI on her two home runs. Ritchie added two hits and two RBI.
 
Ritchie started on the mound for the Bobcats and went 5.0 innings. She allowed 8 hits, 4 earned runs, and struck out 1. Hartman threw 1 inning and allowed 3 hits and 5 earned runs. Reznicek pitched the final 3.2 innings. She allowed 5 hits, two earned runs, and struck out 3 while being tagged for the loss.

WILLIAM PENN GM 2 GAME BOOK
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will host its next four double headers, all Heart contests, at home. On Thursday, March 23, Culver-Stockton (Mo.) will be the opponent. The Wildcats are presently 7-4 overall and 3-1 in the Heart. Games will start at 1 p.m.
 
On Friday, March 24, Grand View (Iowa) will be the foes with the games beginning at 2 p.m. The Vikings are 15-5 overall and are 3-1 in the Heart. In the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll released on Tuesday, Grand View was listed as the 20^th-ranked team.
 
After a day's break, the 'Cats will host Central Methodist (Mo.) on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Eagles, who were receiving votes in the coaches' poll, are 13-7 on the season, and 3-1 in the conference.
 
Finally, Peru State will host Graceland (Iowa) on Wednesday, March 29, at 2 p.m. The Yellowjackets are 11-9 overall and 3-3 in the Heart.