(Peru, Neb.) – The top two baseball teams of the North Division of the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) split a double header on Friday in Peosta, Iowa.
 
The Peru State Bobcats took game one 16-5 over the host Clarke Crusaders. In the nightcap, the Crusaders came from behind for a 9-4 win.
 
With the split, the 'Cats are now 26-14 overall and are 16-8 in the Heart. The Crusaders are 37-9 on the season and are 21-5 in conference play.

 
Game One Action
 
Clarke scored first in the game in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. The Bobcats would take a commanding lead in the top of the second and then would score in four of the five remaining innings.
 
Scout Villanueva (Bakersfield, Calif.) singled to start the top of the second inning. Cameron Dameron (Henderson, Colo.) entered to run for Villanueva at that point. Darren Hasch (Destin, Fla.) walked with Dameron moving to second. Jordan Kelly (Omaha) singled to the pitcher to load the bases. After an out, Joshua Banuelos (Moreno Valley, Calif.) singled to right field to drive in Dameron and to keep the bases loaded. After the second out, Gianfranco Garlobo (Carolina, Puerto Rico) singled to right field which scored Hasch and Kelly. Mark McGinnity (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) singled to center field to drive in Banuelos with Garlobo stopping at third. On a wild pitch, Garlobo scored and at the end of the half inning, Peru State led 5-1.
 
In the bottom of the third, the Crusaders would score two to cut the lead to 5-3 at that point.
 
Bryan Ventura Castro (Carolina, Puerto Rico) would reach on an error to start the top of the fourth. After two outs, Ventura Castro stole second. Brandon Sedell (Davie, Fla.) singled up the middle to drive in Ventura Castro to make it 6-3.
 
After holding the Crusaders scoreless in the bottom of the fourth, Peru State would add more runs in the top of the fifth. Kelly walked to start the frame and then stole second. Edwin Muniz (Dorado, Puerto Rico) singled to second with Kelly advancing to third. After an out, Muniz would go to second on a wild pitch with Kelly scoring. Ventura Castro walked. After a pitching change, Garlobo tripled down the left field line with Muniz and Ventura Castro scoring. McGinnity singled through the left side and Garlobo scored to put Peru State up 10-3 at that point.
 

After shutting down Clarke in the bottom of the fifth, the 'Cats would add a run in the top of the sixth. Hasch doubled down the left field line. After an out, Hasch advanced to third on a wild pitch. Muniz walked and would steal second. Banuelos would also get a walk to load the bases. Ventura Castro singled to left field to drive in Hasch, but Muniz was thrown out at home. The Bobcats would lead 11-3 and five and one-half innings.
 
The Crusaders would score two in the bottom of the sixth to cut the deficit to 11-5 at that point. That fueled the Bobcats' fire as they would score big in the top of the seventh.
 
McGinnity started the seventh with a single to left field. Sedell followed with a single to second with McGinnity stopping at second. Jaime Del Hoyo (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) entered to pinch run for Sedell. Villanueva reached on a fielder's choice with Del Hoyo forced out at second and McGinnity stopping at third. Villanueva would then steal second. Hasch walked to load the bases. Kelly singled to left field to drive in McGinnity. After an out, Banuelos singled to right center with Villanueva and Hasch scoring. After a pitching change, Ventura Castro tripled to center field with Kelly and Banuelos scoring to put the Bobcats up 16-5 which would be the final score.
 
Peru State scored their 16 runs on 19 hits and did not commit any errors. Clarke scored their five runs on six hits and had one miscue.
 
Garlobo and McGinnity each had three hits to lead the 'Cats while Ventura Castro, Sedell, Villanueva, Hasch, Kelly, and Banuelos each added two hits. Garlobo led the team with four RBI while Ventura Castro and Banuelos were each credited with three. McGinnity added two RBI.
 
Tanner DeGafferelly (Fort Walton Beach, Fla.) went six innings on the mound to earn the win. DeGafferelly allowed six hits, five earned runs, and struck out five. Christian Sanchez (Ponce, Puerto Rico) threw the final inning and did not allow any hits while striking out one.

CLARKE GM 1 BOX SCORE
 
Game Two Action
 
Neither team scored in the first.
 
In the top of the second, after an out, Hasch homered to left field to put Peru State up 1-0 at that point.
 
The Crusaders would tie it in the bottom of the second to knot the game at 1-1.
 
The Bobcats would regain the lead in the top of the third. Ventura Castro homered to left field to start the inning. Garlobo followed with a single to right center and would go to third when McGinnity singled to right field. McGinnity advanced to second on a passed ball. On a ground out, Garlobo would score on an error by the catcher. Peru State led 3-1 at that point.
 
Clarke would take the lead in the bottom of the third as they scored four run to lead 5-3 at that point.
 
After two outs in the top of the fourth, Banuelos homered to left field to make it a one-run game at that point.
 
The Crusaders would plate three runs in the bottom of the fifth to extend their lead to 8-4 at that point.
 
Clarke would add an additional run in the bottom of the sixth to make it 9-4 which would be the final score.
 
The Crusaders scored their nine runs on ten hits and committed one error. The 'Cats scored their four runs on eight hits and had two miscues.
 
Garlobo and Hasch each had two hits to lead the Bobcats while Ventura Castro, Hasch, and Banuelos were each credited with one RBI.

 
Javiar Vasquez (Mayaguez, Puerto Rico) started on the mound for Peru State and was tagged for the loss. Vasquez allowed five hits, six earned runs and struck out two. Travis Navarro (San Jacinto, Calif.) threw 0.2 innings and allowed three hits, two earned runs, and struck out one. Hassan Westbrook (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) threw 1.1 innings and allowed one hit, one earned run, and struck out one.

CLARKE GM 2 BOX SCORE
 
Upcoming Games
 
The Bobcats are in Canton, Mo., for a four-game series with Culver-Stockton on Saturday and Sunday. The double headers are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. each day. The Wildcats are 22-21 overall and are 12-12 in Heart play.
 
On Tuesday, Peru State will play its final non-conference double header of the year when they host Tabor (Kan.) beginning at 2 p.m. The Blue Jays are the NAIA's 12^th-ranked team and are presently 33-11 overall.
 
The 'Cats are scheduled to complete their regular season on Thursday and Friday when Grand View (Iowa) comes to the Centennial Complex Field for double headers scheduled to start at 1 p.m. each day. The Vikings are 23-18 on the season and are 14-10 in Heart action