(Peru, Neb.) – The Peru State Bobcat baseball team managed to gain a split with the visiting and the NAIA's tenth-ranked Central Methodist (Mo.) (CMU) Eagles on Tuesday.
 
The 'Cats clawed their way to a 1-0 win in the first game and then dropped the second contest 7-5.
 
Peru State is now 21-9 overall and are 11-5 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). The Eagles are 27-8 on the season and 12-4 in conference action.

 
Game One Action
 
The teams had opportunities to score in the game as the Eagles left nine on base while Peru State stranded seven.
 
The lone run was scored in the bottom of the third inning. Jaime Del Hoyo (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) doubled down the right field line to start the frame. Joshua Banuelos (Moreno Valley, Calif.) followed with a double to deep right-center to drive in Del Hoyo for the only score in the game.
 
Peru State scored their one run on five hits and committed two errors. The Eagles had four hits and committed one error.
 
Del Hoyo, Banuelos, Edwin Muniz (Dorado, Puerto Rico), Gianfranco Garlobo (Carolina, Puerto Rico), and Scout Villanueva (Bakersfield, Calif.) each had one hit with Banuelos being credited with one RBI.
 
Andrew Robinson (Imperial Beach, Calif.) threw 5.1 innings and gained the win. Robinson allowed four hits, no runs, and struck out three. Alberto Rosario (Carolina, Puerto Rico) tossed 1.2 innings to earn the save. Rosario did not allow any hits and struck out three.

CMU GM 1 GAME BOOK
 
Game Two Action
 
The second game was more of what was to be expected in a mid-week conference game where both teams had utilized the majority of the pitchers on the weekend.
 
The Bobcats did take the lead in the bottom of the first. After two outs, Mark McGinnity (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) reached on an error. On a passed ball, McGinnity went to second. Brandon Sedell (Davie, Fla.) reached on a walk. Villanueva singled to right to drive in McGinnity with Sedell moving to third. Jordan Kelly (Omaha) also reached on a walk as did Chaz Dunn (Falls City) which would drive in Sedell. At the end of the inning, Peru State led 2-0.
 
CMU would score one in the top of the third and plated three in the top of the fourth to go up 4-2 at that point.

 
In the bottom of the fourth, after an out, Banuelos singled to right-center. On a balk, Banuelos moved to second. Later, Banuelos would move to third on a wild throw. Muniz would reach on a walk to put runners on the corners. Caleb Dameron (Henderson, Colo.) would enter to run for Muniz, the catcher. Garlobo reached on a fielder's choice with Dameron out at second, but Banuelos would score to make it 4-3 at that point.
 
Neither team would score in the fifth, but the Eagles would extend their lead with three runs in the top of the sixth to go up 7-3.
 
Peru State would attempt a rally in the bottom of the seventh. McGinnity doubled to right to start the inning with Matthew Sontag (Davie, Fla.) entering to run for McGinnity. On a ground out, Sontag went to third. Villanueva would single to center with Sontag scoring to make it 7-4. On a passed ball, Villanueva went to second. After the second out, Dunn doubled down the right field line to score Villanueva, but that was all the 'Cats could muster in the bottom of the seventh as they lost 7-5.
 
CMU scored their seven runs on 11 hits and committed two errors. Peru State scored their five runs on seven errors and had one miscue.
 
McGinnity and Villanueva each had two hits for the Bobcats while Villanueva and Dunn were each credited with two RBI.
 
Alfredo Barroso (Hialeah, Fla.) tossed the first four innings and was tagged for the loss. Barroso allowed eight hits and four earned runs. Brock Secondine (Navarre, Fla.) threw two innings. Secondine allowed three hits, three earned runs, and struck out one. Hassan Westbrook (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) threw the final inning. Westbrook did not allow any hits and struck out three.

CMU GM 2 GAME BOOK
 
Upcoming Games
 
The Bobcats are headed southwest on Wednesday to face Friends in Wichita, Kan., in a non-conference double header beginning at 3 p.m. The Falcons are 23-17 on the season.
 
On Friday and Saturday, Peru State will be hosting a key four-game Heart North series with the visiting William Penn (Iowa) Statesmen. The double headers each day are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. each day. The Statesmen are presently 17-20 overall and are 6-14 in Heart action.
 
Between Saturday's games, not Friday, the Bobcat seniors will be recognized.
 
The following Tuesday, April 18, the 'Cats will be hosting Benedictine (Kan.) in a double header beginning at 1 p.m. The Ravens, member of the Heart South division, are 25-16 currently and are 14-6 in conference play.