(Peru, Neb.) – The Peru State softball team took on the 20^th-ranked Grand View Vikings in Des Moines on Tuesday and came home with a split.
 
After dropping the first game 3-2, the Bobcats came back and thumped the Vikings 9-1 in five innings to win the nightcap.
 
With the split, Peru State improved to 12-21 overall and are 7-11 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). The 12^th win is more than the 'Cats won all of last year. Grand View is now 19-7 overall and 7-3 in conference action.
 
First Game Action
 
Peru State had scoring opportunities in several innings, but could not score until the seventh inning.

 
Grand View scored two in the bottom of the second and one in the bottom of the sixth to lead 3-0 heading into the top of the seventh.
 
In the top of the seventh, after an out, Kiya Talmadge (Omaha) reached on a walk. Sandy Garcia (Strasburg, Colo.) singled to left with Talmadge stopping at second. On a ground out, both base runners advanced. Alexis Paulo-Meyers (Waianae, Hawaii) reached on an error with Talmadge scoring and Garcia moving to third. Amberlin Scharsch (Aiea, Hawaii) singled to left to drive in Garcia to make the score 3-2, but the next batter grounded out to preserve Grand View's lead.
 
The Vikings scored their three runs on five hits and committed two errors. Peru State scored their two runs on five hits and had no errors.
 
Garcia led the team with two hits while Paulo-Meyers and Scharsch each were credited with one RBI.
 
Megan Hartman (Lincoln) was on the mound for Peru State and suffered the loss while pitching a good game. Hartman allowed five hits, three earned runs, and struck out two.

GRAND VIEW GM 1 GAME BOOK
 
Second Game Action
 
The Bobcats jumped out with what would be more than enough runs in the first inning in the second game.
 
Paulo-Meyers singled to center and went to second when Taylor Moya (Keenesburg, Colo.) singled to second. Hartman bunted and reached on a wild throw to load the bases. Tyler Farrell (Brandon, Fla.) singled to left to drive in Paulo-Meyers and the bases were still loaded. Chelsea Reznicek (Omaha) singled to third to drive in Moya to make it 2-0. Leah Quick (Kansas City, Kan.) doubled to right to drive in Hartman and Farrell to put Peru State up 4-0. The 'Cats would end up stranding two base runners, but had a good lead at the end of half inning.
 

Grand View would score what would be their only run in the bottom of the first on a home run.
 
In the top of the second, Paulo-Meyers started the half inning with a single to left. Moya followed with another single and Paulo-Meyers stopped at second. Hartman singled to left to load the bases. Paulo-Meyers would eventually score on the throw. After two outs, Quick singled to center to drive in Moya to make it 6-1.
 
The 'Cats would add more runs in the top of the fourth inning. Moya would reach on a throwing error and then would advance to second on a ground out. Farrell singled to left to drive in Moya. Reznicek reached on an error with Farrell moving to third. Quick hit a sacrifice fly to left to drive in Farrell with Reznicek going to second. On a wild pitch, Reznicek moved to third. Garcia was intentionally walked. Hannah Ciatto (Largo, Fla.) doubled to left to drive in Reznicek for the Bobcats' ninth run.
 
Peru State would shut down the Vikings in the bottom of the fourth and only allowed one base runner in the bottom of the fifth to close out the game with the mercy-rule invoked.
 
The Bobcats scored their nine runs on 11 hits and did not commit any errors. Grand View scored their lone run on four hits and had three miscues.
 
Paulo-Meyers, Moya, Farrell, and Quick each had two hits in Peru State's win. Quick had four RBI while Farrell added two. Reznicek and Ciatto each were credited with one RBI.
 
Nicole Reznicek (Omaha) was on the bump for Peru State and earned her seventh win of the year. Reznicek gave up four hits and one earned run. Ironically, Reznicek did not earn any strikeouts in the win, but anyone would take a win like this one!

GRAND VIEW GM 2 GAME BOOK
 
Upcoming Games
 
The Vikings were to have visited Peru State on Wednesday, but Mother Nature had other plans as there was too much rain Tuesday night making the Centennial Complex Field unplayable. No make-up date has been planned as of this date.
 
Peru State will be home this weekend for another pair of Heart conference games. On Saturday, the 'Cats will host MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) in a double header beginning at 2 p.m. The Pioneers are 12-12 overall and are 3-8 in the Heart.
 
On Sunday, Avila (Mo.) will be the opponent for a double header beginning at 1 p.m. The Eagles are presently 18-14 on the year and are 9-7 in conference play. Avila is scheduled to play a pair of double headers before coming to Peru.