(Peru, Neb.) – A second loss in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) post-season tournament in Ozark, Mo., ends the Peru State 2017 baseball season.
 
Playing in the losers' bracket, Culver-Stockton (Mo.) topped the Bobcats 10-6 to advance on in tournament action.
 
The Wildcats improved to 28-29 on the year while the Bobcats finished with a very respectable 32-20 mark.
 
Game Action
 
Unlike the first game of the tournament, the Bobcats were able to get on the board early against Culver-Stockton.
 
In the top of the first, Bryan Ventura Castro (Carolina, Puerto Rico) singled to center, but was later caught stealing. Gianfranco Garlobo (Carolina, Puerto Rico) singled to third and advanced to third when Mark McGinnity (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) singled shallow down the right field line. Scout Villanueva (Bakersfield, Calif.) doubled to deep right-center to drive in Garlobo with McGinnity advancing to third. On the play, McGinnity would score on an error to make it 2-0.
 
The Wildcats would come back in the bottom of the first and scored four to take a 4-2 lead. Culver-Stockton would add three more in the bottom of the second to extend their lead at that point to 7-2.
 
In the third, Villanueva would hit a home run over the right field fence to cut the deficit to 7-3.
 
In the top of the fourth, Peru State would cut into the Wildcats' lead. Joshua Banuelos (Moreno Valley, Calif.) doubled deep down the left field line. Ventura Castro tripled to deep center to score Banuelos. Garlobo singled to right to drive in Ventura Castro and suddenly it was 7-5. Unfortunately for the Bobcats, they would leave the bases loaded at the end of the half inning.
 
Culver-Stockton would get one of those runs back in the bottom of the fourth to lead 8-5.
 
After the first out in the top of the fifth, Banuelos singled to center. Ventura Castro would reach on an error with Banuelos stopping at second. Garlobo singled to right and Banuelos would try to go home but was thrown out. Ventura Castro went to third on the play and would eventually score when McGinnity singled to right to make it 8-6.
 
The Wildcats would add two more runs in the bottom of the fifth for what would be the final scoring of the game.
 
Peru State would have one last gasp in the top of the ninth. After two outs, Chaz Dunn (Falls City) singled to keep the game going. Banuelos followed with a single with Dunn moving to third. Ventra Castro reached on a walk to load the bases, but a fly-ball out would end the season.
 
Stats
 
Culver-Stockton scored their ten runs on 14 hits and had two errors. The Bobcats scored their six runs on 17 hits and also had two miscues.
 
Ventura Castro, Garlobo, and Banuelos each had three hits for Peru State while McGinnity, Villanueva, Jordan Kelly (Omaha), and Dunn each had two hits. Villanueva led the team with two RBI while Ventura Castro, Garlobo, and McGinnity each finished with one RBI.
 
Ben Carr (Omaha) started on the mound and was tagged for the loss. Carr threw 1.1 innings and allowed four hits, five earned runs, and struck out one. Javier Vasquez (Mayaguez, Puerto Rico) tossed 0.2 inning and allowed three hits, two earned runs, and struck out one. Christian Sanchez (Ponce, Puerto Rico) threw 2.1 innings. Sanchez allowed four hits, three earned runs, and struck out one. Tyler Wheelock (Omaha) threw 1.2 innings and allowed one hit and struck out one. Cragin Missak (Bellevue) finished the game tossing two innings. Missak allowed two hits and struck out one.

CULVER-STOCKTON GAME BOOK