(Peru, Neb.) – Yes, it can get cold in Texas. Because it was to be in the 30's on Saturday, Peru State and Wayland Baptist (WBU) played three games on Friday in Plainview, Texas. It started in the 70's on Friday, too, and ended up in the 30's by the time the triple-header ended at around 11:15 p.m.
 
The Pioneers gained book-end wins 22-7 and 7-6 with Peru State taking the middle game 8-4 to hand Wayland Baptist its first loss of the year. The Pioneers are now 6-1 overall while the 'Cats start their season at 1-2.
 
Game One Action
 
Peru State scored in the opening inning for their 2018 season. Zach Nolin (Bonifay, Fla.) walked and went to second on a wild pitch. Edwin Muniz (Dorado, Puerto Rico) was hit by a pitch and Jordan Kelly (Omaha) came in to run for Muniz. On a double play, Nolin went to third. Bryan Ventura-Castro (Carolina, Puerto Rico) reached on an error which scored Nolin to put the 'Cats up 1-0.
 
The Pioneers scored five runs in the bottom of the first to lead 5-1 after one complete inning.
 
The 'Cats came back in the top of the second to add three runs. Seth Thomason (Crestview, Fla.) walked and came home as part of a two-run home run by Eric Ocasio (San Juan, Puerto Rico). After an out, Josh Banuelos (Moreno Valley, Calif.) homered down the right-field line to make it 5-4. Wayland Baptist would add two in the bottom of the second, four in the bottom of the third, five in both the fourth and fifth innings to lead 21-4 after five innings.
 
The Bobcats would add some runs in the top of the sixth inning. Chaz Dunn (Falls City) started the inning with a double to left center. Banuelos would single to drive in Dunn. Nolin singled to right field and went to second on the throw, but Banuelos was thrown out at third. Jaime Del Hoyo (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) reached on an error with Nolin advancing to third. Gianfranco Garlobo (Carolina, Puerto Rico) singled to drive in Nolin and went to second and Del Hoyo was thrown out trying to go home. Ventura-Castro singled up the middle to drive in Garlobo for Peru State's final run of game one.
 
WBU would add one in the bottom of the sixth for the final score of 22-7.
 
The Pioneers scored 22 runs on 16 hits and committed two errors. Peru State scored their seven runs on eight hits and had five miscues.
 
Ventura-Castro and Banuelos each had two hits to lead Peru State. Ocasio and Banuelos each drove in two RBI while Garlobo and Ventura-Castro each added one RBI.
 
Dunn led the team with two assists.
 
Alberto Rosario (Carolina, Puerto Rico) started on the mound for the Bobcats and suffered the loss. Rosario went 1.1 innings and allowed 4 hits, 6 runs – 3 earned, and struck out 4. Andrew Robinson (Imperial Beach, Calif.) threw 1 inning. Robinson allowed 4 hits, 4 runs – all earned, and struck out 1. Javier Vasquez (Mayaguez, Puerto Rico) also tossed 1 inning. Vasquez allowed 1 hit, 4 runs – 1 earned, and struck out 3. Jose Mendez (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) went 1 inning and gave up 5 hits, 7 runs – 4 earned, and struck out 2. Felix Rodriguez (Carolina, Puerto Rico) finished the game and tossed the final 1.2 innings. He allowed 2 hits, 1 earned run, and struck out 1.

WBU GAME ONE BOX SCORE
 
Game Two Action
 
Game two was more of a pitcher's duel through the first five innings as WBU scored just one in the bottom of the third and added two more in the bottom of the fifth to lead 3-0 going into the top of the sixth.
 
Peru State did the majority of its damage in the top of the sixth inning as they plated six runs. Nolin walked and went to second on a foul ball out. Garlobo singled to center with Nolin stopping at third. Del Hoyo came in to run for Garlobo. Ventura-Castro homered to left center to tie the score at 3-3. After a pitching change, there was a strikeout before Darren Hasch (Destin, Fla.) doubled to left. Hasch would advance to third on a passed ball. Ocasio walked with Dunn coming in to run for him. Kelly singled to drive in Hasch with Dunn stopping at second. Banuelos singled to load the bases. Nolin followed with a single to bring home both Dunn and Kelly for the fifth and sixth runs of the inning. The Bobcats led 6-3 at this point.
After holding the Pioneers scoreless in the bottom of the sixth, Peru State would add a couple of insurance runs in the top of the seventh. After Ventura-Castro reached on a walk, Thomason singled with Ventura-Castro stopping at third. Thomason would steal second and then Cragin Missak (Bellevue) came in to pinch run for him. Hasch walked to load the bases. Peru State would hit into a double play with Ventura-Castro being thrown out at home with Missak and Hasch advancing one base. Kelly would come to the plate and hit a single through the left side with both Missak and Hasch scoring to make it 8-3 at that point.
 
Wayland Baptist would get one run back in the bottom of the seventh before the Bobcats captured their first victory of the 2018 season.
 
Peru State scored their eight runs on eight hits and had four errors. WBU scored its four runs on five hits and did not commit any errors.
 
Kelly was the only Bobcat to have more than one hit as he finished two for four. Ventura-Castro and Kelly each finished with three RBI while Nolin was credited with the other two.
 
Nolin, Hasch, Ocasio, and Banuelos were each credited with two assists.
 
Eddy Tavarez-Cabrera (Puerto Rico) threw the first four innings of the second game. Tavarez-Cabrera threw 4 innings and allowed 2 hits, 1 run – none earned, and struck out 4. Joshua Santiago (Carolina, Puerto Rico) tossed the fifth inning and earned the first win for Peru State. Santiago allowed 2 hits and 2 runs – 1 earned. Tyler Wheelock (Bellevue) came in to relieve Santiago and tossed no-hit inning while striking out 1. Ricky Broxson (Panama City, Fla.) threw the final inning and allowed 1 hit, 1 earned run, and struck out 1.

WBU GAME TWO BOX SCORE
Game Three Action
 
The third game went nine innings and last 3 hours and 18 minutes before the Pioneers pulled out the win in the bottom of the ninth.
 
WBU took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first and held that until the top of the third inning.
 
Peru State would respond with a five-spot in the top of the third. Nolin walked to start the inning and then after a strikeout, Hasch was hit by a pitch. Ventura-Castro walked to load the bases. Robinson was also hit by a pitch and Nolin scored. Del Hoyo doubled down the right-field line with Hasch and Ventura-Castro scoring. Robinson would score on a wild pitch with Del Hoyo moving to third. Dunn walked and after a strikeout, would steal second. Del Hoyo would later score on an error by the catcher and Peru State would lead 5-2 after two and one-half innings.
 
The Bobcats would hold the Pioneers scoreless in the bottom of the third and would then add a run in the top of the fourth. Nolin singled through the right side and would go to second with a wild pitch. After two outs, Nolin would eventually score on a wild pitch having gone to third on one of the ground outs. The 'Cats would lead 6-2 at that point.
 
WBU would add one run in the bottom of the fourth to make it 6-3. After the 'Cats left two on base in the top of the fifth, the Pioneers would add another run to cut the lead to two at 6-4.
 
Later, in the bottom of the seventh, Wayland Baptist would add a couple of runs to force extra innings.
 
Peru State left a base runner on third in the top of the eighth inning, but could not plate him.
 
Then, in the bottom of the ninth, WBU was able to score the winning run for the 7-6 victory.
 
The Pioneers scored seven runs on nine hits and had two errors. Peru State scored their six runs on six hits and committed four miscues.
 
Banuelos led the team with two hits while Del Hoyo led Peru State with two RBI. Robinson was credited with the other RBI.
 
Nolin had five assists while Muniz and Banuelos finished with four and three respectively.
 
Cory Royer (Las Vegas) threw 5 innings and allowed 5 hits, 4 runs – 3 earned and struck out 4. Missak threw 1 innings and allowed 1 hit while striking out 1. Alfredo Barroso (Hialeah, Fla.) tossed 1 inning. Barroso did not allow any hits, but gave up 2 runs – 1 earned and struck out 2. Broxson threw the final 1.2 innings and was tagged for the loss. He allowed 3 hits and 1 run.

WBU GAME THREE BOX SCORE Upcoming Games
 
The next two weekends, the Bobcats are playing four-game series against a variety of teams in Joplin, Mo. On Saturday, Feb. 17, Peru State will take on Waldorf (Iowa) at 10:30 a.m. and then Robert Morris (Ill.) at 3:30 p.m. It will be the first game of the year for both Waldorf and Robert Morris. On Sunday, Feb. 18, the 'Cats will face Viterbo (Wis.) at 11 a.m. and finish the four-game stand against Columbia (Mo.) at 1:30 p.m. The V-Hawks are 1-6 at this point in the season while the Cougars are 5-1.
 
The following weekend, while back in Joplin, Peru State will play one game each day with LSU Alexandria and Jamestown (N.D.).
 
Peru State's complete schedule can be found at https://goo.gl/6yPRpf