(Peru, Neb.) – While it was not their traditional spring break trip, it was a change of pace as the Peru State Bobcat softball team decided to stay closer to home this March.
 
The Bobcats decided to compete in the Friends (Kan.) Invitational in Wichita, Kan., where they played five games in two days. On each day, the 'Cats took the first game, but dropped the others. Saturday's games were played with some very extreme winds which caused challenges with all teams.
 
Peru State topped Mid-America Christian (Okla.) in the first game of the tournament 9-3 and then fell for the third time this season to Ottawa (Kan.) 4-1. On Saturday, Peru State won 12-4 in five innings over McPherson (Kan.) before dropping back-to-back games with Bethel (Kan.) 15-7 and the hosts, Friends, 14-11.
 
After going 2-3 in the tournament, Peru State is now 2-5 on the season.

 
Friday Mid-America Christian Game
 
Peru State picked up its first win of the early season with a 9-3 win over the Evangels. MACU fell to 4-7 with the loss.
 
As the home, the 'Cats picked up a run in the bottom of the first inning as Alexis Paulo-Meyers (Waianae, Hawaii) homered on the first pitch of the inning over the left field fence. The Bobcats did leave two runners on base at the end of the inning as they led 1-0.
 
MACU scored one to tie it in the top of the second, but Peru State put more than enough runs to win the game in the bottom of the inning.
 
Sandy Garcia (Strasburg, Colo.) singled to shallow center to start the half inning and went to third when Ally Hazen (North Platte) doubled to deep center. Hannah Ciatto (Largo, Fla.) singled up the middle to drive in Garcia and Hazen. Paulo-Meyers singled to left-center with Ciatto moving to second. Ciatto would actually score on the play as the Evangels had an error and Paulo-Meyers went to third. Amberlin Scharsch (Aiea, Hawaii) would ground out, but it was enough to bring Paulo-Meyers home to make it 5-1 at the end of two innings as the 'Cats stranded two again.
 
The Evangels would add a run in the top of the third to cut the score to 5-2 which would stand until the bottom of the fifth.
 
Megan Hartman (Lincoln) reached on a walk and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Chelsea Reznicek (Omaha). Erin Snyder (Omaha) reached on an error with Hartman moving to third. Hazen would get her second double of the contest with Hartman scoring and Snyder stopping at third. Ciatto singled to drive in Snyder with Hazen moving to third. Paulo-Meyers reached on a walk to load the bases. After a pitching change, Scharsch hit a sacrifice fly with Hazen scoring Peru State's third run of the inning to go ahead 8-2 while leaving another two on base.
 
MACU would add a single run in the top of the sixth to cut the lead to 8-3.
 
Peru State would add an insurance run in the bottom of the inning. Rachel Carlos (Kaneohe, Hawaii) doubled deep down the left field line and came home when Hartman singled to shallow right. The 'Cats would have more base runners, but could not convert. At the end of six, the Bobcats led 9-3 which would eventually be the final score.
 
Peru State scored their nine runs on 13 hits and committed two errors. The Evangels scored their three runs on eight hits and also had two errors.
 

Hazen went four for four and drove in three to lead Peru State. Carlos went three for four while Paulo-Meyers and Ciatto each had two hits. Ciatto drove in three while Paulo-Meyers drove in one.
 
Nicole Reznicek (Omaha) picked up her first win of the 2017 campaign. Reznicek threw a complete game and allowed eight hits, three earned runs, and struck out 12. The 12 K's are the most in Reznicek's four-year career and are the most in five years. Former Bobcat Devon Massengale had two 12 strikeout games in 2012.

MACU GAME BOOK
 
Friday Ottawa Game
 
The second game on Friday was more of a pitcher's duel as the Ottawa Braves picked up their third win over Peru State on the year. The Braves won 4-1.
 
Ottawa scored in the top of the first to lead 1-0.
 
Peru State would not get on the board until the bottom of the fourth inning. Paulo-Meyers doubled to deep center to start the inning. Scharsch reached on a walk. After a strike-out, Carlos singled to left with Paulo-Meyers scoring the lone Bobcat run of the night.
 
The Braves would regain the lead in the top of the fifth with two runs and added an insurance run in the top of the sixth to win 4-1.
 
Ottawa scored their four runs on eight hits and committed two errors. The 'Cats scored their one run on three hits and had one error.
 
Paulo-Meyers went two for three to lead Peru State. Carlos had the only other hit.
 
Taylor Moya (Keenesburg, Colo.) threw a complete game and suffered the loss. Moya allowed eight hits, four runs – three earned, and struck out six.

OTTAWA GAME BOOK
 
Saturday McPherson Game
 
The Bulldogs scored one in the top of the first inning to take an early lead. The 'Cats responded in the bottom of the first with two runs.

 
Paulo-Meyers doubled down the left field line to start the inning. Scharsch reached with a walk. Carlos laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners. Hazen singled to left to drive in Paulo-Meyers with Scharsch advancing to third. Quick singled to right-center to drive in Scharsch to put Peru State up 2-1.
 
McPherson would score two in the top of the second to take a 3-2 lead, but the Bobcats would respond in the bottom of the second.
 
Moya singled up the middle to start the inning, but was forced out when Paulo-Meyers reached first on a fielder's choice. Scharsch laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Paulo-Meyers to second. Carlos followed with a triple to right-center to drive in Paulo-Meyers to tie the game at 3-3. Hazen would follow with a single to bring home Carlos and the 'Cats would be back in front 4-3.
 
Peru State would add a run in the bottom of the third. Hartman reached on a walk and went to second on a ground out. Ciatto would reach base on an error with Hartman scoring on the play to put the Bobcats up 5-3.
 
The Bulldogs would score one to close the gap in the top of the fourth with the 'Cats still leading 5-4.
 
After not scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning, Peru State would do some major damage in the bottom of the fifth.
 
Garcia started the inning with a walk with Erin Snyder (Omaha) entering to run for Garcia after the play was over. Snyder stole second and then went to third as Ciatto singled thru the hole at shortstop. Moya bunted and reached base, but Snyder was out trying to go back to third with Ciatto moving to second. Paulo-Meyers stepped to the plate and hit a home run to deep right-center on a 3-1 count to make it 8-4 Peru State. Scharsch then bunted to reach base and would go to third when Carlos singled to right. On a balk by McPherson's pitcher, Scharsch score the ninth run with Carlos going to second. Hazen would eventually reach on a walk. The base runners would advance with a wild pitch and then Quick would load the bases with a walk. Hartman would get a walk which scored Carlos to make it 10-4. Snyder followed with a walk to score Hazen and the score was then 11-4. Ciatto would reach on a fielder's choice which brought home Quick to end the game due to the mercy rule at 12-4.
 
Peru State scored their 12 runs on 13 hits and committed three errors while also stranding ten on base. McPherson scored their four runs on six hits and had two errors.
 
Carlos and Moya both went three for three with Carlos having one RBI. Paulo-Meyers and Hazen each had two hits with Paulo-Meyers having three RBI and Hazen contributing two RBI.
 
Hartman picked up her first win of the season as she tossed a complete five innings for the victory. She allowed six hits, four runs – two earned and struck out one.

McPHERSON BOX SCORE
 
Saturday Bethel Game
 
The wind wreaked havoc as it had most of the day causing both teams to have errors and lots of hits.
 
Bethel scored one in the top of the first to start the game.

 
Peru State would get on board in the bottom of the second. Garcia singled to shallow left-center, but was then caught stealing. Chelsea Reznicek reached on an error and would go to second when Ciatto singled thru the hole at shortstop. On a sacrifice bunt by Moya, both runners advanced. Paulo-Meyers singled thru the hole at shortstop to score Reznicek. At the end of two, the score was tied at 1-1.
 
The Threshers came up big in the top of the third as they scored five runs to go up 6-1. They would add another run in the top of the fourth to increase their lead to 7-1.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, after an out, Garcia reached on a walk. Reznicek would follow with a double down the right field line with Garcia stopping at third. Ciatto tripled to deep right-center with both base runners scoring to make it 7-3. Moya grounded out, but Ciatto was able to score to put the score at 7-4. Paulo-Myers homered over the right field fence on a full count and the 'Cats were within two at the end of the inning at 7-5.
 
Bethel would increase their lead back to five after scoring three in the top of the fifth to make it 10-5.
 
Hazen would start Peru State's half-inning with a single to shallow right-center. After an out, Garcia singled thru the hole at shortstop with Hazen stopping at second. Reznicek bunted to load the bases. On a ground out by Ciatto, Hazen scored with the other runners advancing. Moya doubled to shallow left to score Garcia with Reznicek stopping at third. Thru five complete innings, Bethel led 10-7.
 
The Threshers would add one in the top of the sixth and four more insurance runs in the top of the seventh to lead 15-7 which would be the final score.
 
Bethel scored their 15 runs on 16 hits and committed three errors. Peru State scored their seven runs on 11 hits and had a season-high six miscues.
 
Paulo-Meyers, Garcia, Reznicek, and Ciatto each had two hits. Ciatto led the team with three RBI while Paulo-Meyers and Moya each had two RBI.
 
Nicole Reznicek was on the mound and threw 2.2 innings allowing 7 hits, 6 runs – none earned, and struck out 3. Hartman tossed 3.1 innings allowing 4 hits and 5 runs – 3 earned. Moya pitched the final inning and allowed 5 hits, 4 earned runs, and struck out 1.

BETHEL GAME BOOK
 
Saturday Friends Game
 
A late night game with Friends proved to be a wild one as both teams committed five errors and had some big innings.
 
Peru State scored first. After an out, Scharsch reached on a walk and then Carlos hit a two-run dinger over the left field fence on a 1-0 count. Hazen followed with a single thru the hole at shortstop. After the second out, Ritchie singled to center with Hazen stopping at second. Tyler Farrell (Brandon Fla.) singled to deep right-center to score Hazen to put the Bobcats up 3-0 at that point.
 
After Friends left the bases loaded in the bottom of the first, the Bobcats would add a run in the top of the second. After two outs, Scharsch homered over the center field fence on a 2-0 count to make it 4-0.?

 
The Cardinals would eventually tie it with four runs in the bottom of the third inning and then would take the lead in the bottom of the fourth with three runs. After four complete, Friends led 7-4.
 
The fifth inning was a big one for both teams. Paulo-Meyers would start things off for the Bobcats with a walk, but was forced out when Scharsch reached on a fielder's choice. Scharsch would go to second on the defense's indifference. Carlos would reach with a walk and then Hazen singled to shallow center with Scharsch moving to third and Carlos to second to load the bases. Quick reached on a fielder's choice, but Scharsch was forced out at home. Ritchie singled to right-center to drive in Carlos and Hazen with Quick advancing to third. Farrell would reach with a Cardinal error with Quick scoring. On a passed ball, both runners advanced. Moya reached on another error with Ritchie scoring and Farrell going to third. Moya would go to second with a stolen base. Ciatto would reach on the third error in the inning by Friends which allowed both Farrell and Moya to score. At the end of four and one-half innings, the Bobcats led 10-7.
 
That lead would be short-lived as Friends put up five on the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning to regain the lead at 12-10.
 
Peru State would cut the lead to one in the top of the sixth. After an out, Carlos doubled to deep right-center. After the second out, Quick doubled to deep right and Carlos scored to make it 12-11.
 
After Friends tacked on two insurance run in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 14-11, Peru State could not score in the seventh.
 
The Cardinals scored their 14 runs on 14 hits and committed five errors. Peru State scored their 11 runs on nine hits and also had five errors.
 
Carlos, Hazen, and Ritchie each had two hits. Carlos, Ritchie, and Farrell were each credited with two RBI.
 
Ritchie started the game on the mound and threw 4.2 innings. She allowed 11 hits, 12 runs – 7 earned, and struck out 6. Reznicek came in to relieve Ritchie and tossed the final 1.1 innings. Reznicek allowed 3 hits, 2 earned runs, and struck out 4 while being tagged for the loss.

FRIENDS GAME BOOK
 
Upcoming Contests
 
After a day's rest (or less than that due to the lateness of getting back to Peru), the Bobcats will head back to Kansas on Monday and Tuesday for a pair of double headers.
 
On Monday, the Bobcats will face Southwestern in Winfield, Kan., at 2 p.m. The Moundbuilders are 5-13 on the year after losing five straight games. On Tuesday, the 'Cats will go to Hillsboro, Kan., to take on the Tabor Blue Jays at 2 p.m. Tabor is presently 5-6 on the year.
 
Peru State will then head a little further south and will take on Langston in Langston, Okla., on Wednesday. The Lions are 6-5 and will play five games before hosting Peru State.
 
The 'Cats first home contests will be this Saturday, March 11, when they host Culver-Stockton (Mo.) in both team's Heart of America Athletic Conference opener at the Centennial Complex Field. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. The Wildcats are presently 5-1 and will play three more contests before coming to Peru State.