(Peru, Neb.) – The North Division leaders of the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) split an early season, key match-up as Clarke (Iowa) took the Saturday games while Peru State won on Sunday in Peru.
 
With the split, the Bobcats improved to 16-7 on the season and 8-4 in the Heart North. The Pride are now 9-14 on the year and are also 8-4 in the North.
 
Saturday Game One Action
 
Clarke got on the scoreboard first and scored all of their runs before Peru State was able to push across any runs. The Pride scored one in the top of the first, two in the top of the second, and added their fourth run in the top of the fourth.

 
The 'Cats scored all of their runs in the bottom of the sixth. Gianfranco Garlobo (Carolina, Puerto Rico) singled shallow down the left field line to start the inning. Bryan Ventura Castro (Carolina, Puerto Rico) tripled down the right field line to drive in Garlobo to make it 4-1. Darren Hasch (Destin, Fla.) reached on a walk. After an out, Eric Ocasio (San Juan, Puerto Rico) singled to shallow right and Ventura Castro scored to pull the Bobcats within two at 4-2. Jaime Del Hoyo (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) entered to run for Ocasio. On a ground out, the base runners advanced and then Hasch scored on a wild throw by Clarke. Chaz Dunn (Falls City) kept the inning going with a single to left-center with Del Hoyo stopping at third. Unfortunately, the next Peru State batter flied out to end the inning and the Bobcat scoring for the game.
 
The Pride scored their four runs on three hits and committed two errors. Peru State scored their three runs on eight hits and also had two miscues.
 
Ocasio was the only Bobcat to have two hits as he went two for two. Ocasio and Ventura Castro were each credited with one RBI.
 
Alberto Rosario (Carolina, Puerto Rico) took the loss for the Bobcats. Rosario pitched six innings. He allowed three hits, four runs – one earned, and struck out four. Cragin Missak (Bellevue) threw one inning. Missak did not allow any hits and struck out one.

CLARKE GAME ONE GAME BOOK
 
Saturday Game Two Action
 
It was a pitcher's duel in the second game on Saturday.
 
Peru State did score first and it came in the second inning. Ventura Castro singled to right-center and advanced on the throw. After two strikeouts, Ocasio reached on a walk. Seth Thomason (Crestview, Fla.) singled to shallow right to drive in Ventura Castro for the 1-0 lead.
 
Clarke would tie it in the top of the fourth and then scored what was the winning run in the top of the seventh for the 2-1 win.

 
The Pride scored their two runs on four hits and did not commit any errors. Peru State scored their lone run on five hits and had one error.
 
Thomason was the only Bobcat who had two hits and was credited with the lone RBI.
 
Eddy Tavarez Cabrera (San Cristobel, Dominican Republic) threw a complete game and suffered the loss. Tavarez Cabrera allowed four hits, two earned runs, and struck out nine.

CLARKE GAME TWO GAME BOOK
 
Sunday Game One Action
 
While it was supposed to be warmer on Sunday, it never did get any better than on Saturday.
 
Clarke did score first in the game and plated two in the top of the first inning. In the top of the second the Pride added a run to make it 3-0.
 
In the bottom of the second, the 'Cats were able to get on the scoreboard. Hasch singled to the pitcher's mound to start the bottom of the second. After an out, Thomason singled to left-center with Hasch stopping a second. Dunn singled to shallow right to load the bases. Kelly reached with a walk to drive in Hasch and kept the bases loaded. Banuelos singled to right-center to drive in Thomason with Dunn being thrown out stretching for home. At the end of two Clarke led 3-2.
 
The Bobcats would take the lead in the bottom of the third. Ventura Castro singled thru the hole at shortstop and then stole second. Ocasio was hit by a pitch with Zach Nolin (Bonifay, Fla.) entering to run for Ocasio. Hasch bunted and reached to load the bases. Muniz reached on a fielder's choice to drive in Ventura Castro with Hasch forced out at second. Thomason followed with a single to shallow left to score Nolin to put the Bobcats up 4-3.
 
Clarke would regain the lead with two runs in the top of the fifth. The Pride would maintain the 5-4 lead until the bottom of the seventh as Peru State left the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Hasch singled to shallow center and then Muniz was hit by a pitch with Nolin entering after the play to run for Hasch. Thomason laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. After the second out, there was a passed ball and Nolin scored to tie the game. But, the 'Cats would strand two base runners in the inning and the game was extended.
 
The Pride would strand two in the top of the eighth while the Bobcats went down in order in the bottom of the inning.
In the top of the ninth, the Bobcats pulled off a nice double play to end a potential Clarke scoring threat.
 
Then, in the bottom of the ninth, after two outs, Thomason just missed a home run as he doubled off the left-center fence. Del Hoyo entered to run for Thomason at that point. Dunn stepped to the plate and hit a blooper which landed between the second baseman and the centerfielder to drive in Del Hoyo for the Peru State 6-5 win.
 
Peru State scored their six runs on 12 hits and committed two errors. Clarke scored their five runs on 11 hits and also had two errors.
 
Hasch and Thomason each had three hits to lead the Peru State attack with Dunn and Banuelos each adding two hits. Kelly, Banuelos, Muniz, Thomason, and Dunn each had one RBI.
 
Cory Royer (Las Vegas) started the game on the mound for the Bobcats. Royer tossed 4.1 innings and allowed 9 hits, 5 earned runs, and struck out 4. Missak entered to throw 1 out which came on a strikeout. Tyler Wheelock (Bellevue) entered and threw the final 4.1 innings for the win. Wheelock allowed just 1 hit and struck out 3. It was Wheelock's first career win as a Bobcat!
CLARKE GAME ONE GAME BOOK
 
Sunday Game Two Action
 
Clarke plated a four-spot in the top of the second inning.
 
In the bottom of that inning, Ventura Castro singled to right and went to second on a ground out. Ocasio singled to shallow left to drive in Ventura Castro to make it 4-1.
 
The Pride would jump to an even bigger lead by adding four more runs in the top of the third to go up 8-1.
 
Peru State would later come back with a vengeance in the bottom of the fourth. Ventura Castro singled to shallow left and came around to score when Hasch doubled to deep right-center. Ocasio reached on a walk and Nolin entered to run for him. Muniz was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Thomason reached on a walk to make it 8-3. Dunn singled to left to drive in Nolin and Muniz with Thomason stopping at second. After an out, Banuelos reached on an error to again load the bases. Garlobo singled thru the hole at shortstop to bring in Thomason and Dunn with Banuelos stopping at second. After a pitching change, Ventura Castro reached on a walk to load the bases up one more time. After the second out, Ocasio returned to bat and singled up the middle to drive in Banuelos and Garlobo to put the Bobcats ahead 9-8.

 
The only other scoring in the game came in the bottom of the sixth for Peru State. After two outs, Hasch tripled to deep left-center. Nolin came in to pinch run for Hasch. On a passed ball, Nolin scored the final run of the game.
 
Peru State scored their ten runs on nine hits and committed three errors. The Pride scored their eight runs on six hits and had four miscues.
 
Ventura Castro, Hasch, Ocasio, and Dunn each had two hits to lead the Bobcats. Ocasio was credited with three RBI while Garlobo and Dunn each had two RBI.
 
Carlos Gonzalez (Gurabo, Puerto Rico) threw the first 2.1 innings. Gonzalez allowed 5 hits, 7 runs – 6 earned, and struck out 2. Andrew Robinson (Imperial Beach, Calif.) threw the final 4.2 innings and collected the win. Robinson allowed 1 hit, 1 earned run, and struck out 2.

CLARKE GAME TWO GAME BOOK
 
Upcoming Games
 
Weather permitting, the Bobcats will take on another version of 'Cats as they will face the York Panthers in a nine-inning contest on Tuesday in York at 3 p.m. The Panthers, now members of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, are 12-19 on the year.
 
Prior to Easter, the Bobcats will be in Lamoni, Iowa, to take on Graceland on Friday and Saturday with double headers beginning each day at 1 p.m. The Yellowjackets are 10-14 overall and 4-6 in the Heart North.
 
The next home game for the Bobcats will be Tuesday, April 3, when MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) visits the Centennial Complex for a double header scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. The Pioneers are 13-9 on the year and are 8-4 in the Heart South.