(Peru, Neb.) – The Clarke University softball team won their first two Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) games of the 2018 season after sweeping Peru State in Peru on Sunday.
 
The Pride won 14-5 and 11-2 with both games ending after five innings.
 
Clarke improved to 4-10 overall and are now 2-2 in the Heart North. The Bobcats fell to 4-14 overall and are still looking for their first conference win against six losses.
 
First Game Action
 
The Pride scored four runs in the top of the first inning to take the early lead.
 
Peru State would score in the bottom of the second inning. Rachel Carlos (Kaneohe, Hawaii) singled shallow down the right field line. Megan Hartman (Lincoln) reached on a walk with Carlos moving to second. After an out, Ally Hazen (North Platte) reached first on a fielder's choice with Carlos going to third and Hartman being forced out. Morgan Ritchie (Lincoln) doubled to deep center to drive in the base runners to make it 4-2 Clarke at that point.
 
Clarke would explode for seven runs in the top of the third to go up 11-2. They would add two more in the top of the fourth to move their lead to 13-2.

 
In the bottom of the fourth, Carlos singled down the right field line and went to second on a passed ball. Hartman singled up the middle with Carlos stopping at third. After an out, Hazen hit a sacrifice fly deep down the right field line to score Carlos to make it 13-3 at that point.
 
The Pride added one more run in the top of the fifth to put their lead at 14-3.
 
Peru State did score some runs in the bottom of the fifth, but it was not enough to keep the mercy rule from being invoked. Alexis Paulo-Meyers (Waianae, Hawaii) reached on an error but was forced out when Regan Kirby (Gretna) reached on a fielder's choice. Tyler Farrell (Brandon, Fla.) then hit a two-run home run over the center field fence on a 3-2 count to make the final score 14-5.
 
Clarke scored their 14 runs on 14 hits and had one error. Peru State scored their five runs on six hits and also had one error.
 
Carlos went two for three to lead the Bobcats while Farrell and Ritchie were each credited with two RBI.
 
Ritchie started the game for Peru State and was tagged for the loss. She threw 2.2 innings and allowed 8 hits, 8 runs – 7 earned, and struck out 2. Taylor Moya (Keenesburg, Colo.) tossed the final 2.1 innings. Moya gave up 6 hits, 6 runs – 5 earned, and struck out 2.

CLARKE GM 1 GAME BOOK
 
Game Two Action
 
The Pride took the lead early and then continued to expand it before the Bobcats got on the board.
 
Clarke scored two in the first, one in the third, and added five in the fourth to lead 8-0 before Peru State could get one across the plate.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, after an out, Moya singled to short, but was forced out when Paulo-Meyers reached on a fielder's choice. Paulo-Meyers would go to second with a stolen base. Kirby singled to the infield with Paulo-Meyers stopped at third. Farrell followed with a double to deep left to drive in both base runners to make it 8-2.
 
The Pride would score three runs in the top of the fifth to go up 11-2. Clarke then kept the 'Cats from scoring in the bottom of the fifth to finish the game as Peru State stranded two on base.
 
Clarke scored their 11 runs on 14 hits and committed two errors. The Bobcats scored their two runs on three hits and had one error.
 

Hartman was tagged for the loss as she threw 4.2 innings. She allowed 14 hits, 11 runs – 10 earned, and struck out 5. Moya threw the final out.

CLARKE GM 2 GAME BOOK
 
Upcoming Games
 
The Bobcats have three double headers scheduled for the week which sandwiches a non-conference set in between two Heart games.
 
Due to Mother Nature, the 'Cats will host William Penn (Iowa) in a double header beginning at 2 p.m. on Wednesday instead of Tuesday. The Statesmen are presently 8-12 on the year and 2-2 in the Heart North.
 
On Thursday, Peru State will host NCAA DIII Nebraska Wesleyan in another double header beginning at 2 p.m. The Prairie Wolves are 11-7 on the season.
 
Then, on Sunday, the 'Cats will be traveling to Marshall, Mo., to face Central Methodist with the double header scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. The Eagles, who were receiving votes in the first spring Coaches' Top 25 Poll, are 16-2 overall and are 6-0 in the Heart South. They have won eight straight.