(Peru, Neb.) – In weather below 40 degrees, the University of Saint Mary (USM) Spires swept a pair of game from the visiting Peru State Bobcat softball team on Wednesday in Leavenworth, Kan.
 
The Spires took game one 7-2 and then took the second game 6-4.
 
With the wins, USM improved to 4-13. The 'Cats fell to 2-4.
 
First Game Action
 
The Bobcats scored both of their runs in the top of the first. After two outs, Rachel Carlos (Waianae, Hawaii) singled to second. Megan Hartman (Lincoln) was hit by a pitch. Ally Hazen (North Platte) stepped to the plate and doubled to center to drive in both runners for a 2-0 Peru State lead.

 
The Spires would tie it in the bottom of the third with a pair of runs. Later, in the bottom of the fifth, USM took the lead with another pair of runs.
 
In the top of the sixth, the Bobcats tried to score and left a pair of runners on base.
 
USM added three insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth in route to their 7-2 win.
 
The Spires scored their seven runs on 14 hits and did not commit any errors. Peru State scored their two runs on seven hits and had three errors.
 
Sandy Garcia (Strasburg, Colo.) had two hits to lead the Bobcat attack while Hazen had both RBI.
 
Morgan Ritchie (Lincoln) tossed the first five innings and was tagged for the loss. She allowed ten hits, four earned runs, and struck out three. Taylor Moya (Keenesburg, Colo.) threw one inning. Moya allowed four hits, three earned runs, and struck out one.
 
Second Game Action
 
Once again the Bobcats took an early lead in the second game.
 
Regan Kirby (Gretna) doubled to left to start the game. Tyler Farrell (Brandon, Fla.) followed with a double to left to drive in Kirby. Carlos followed with a double and Farrell scored. That would be all the 'Cats would score, but they led 2-0 at that point.

 
In the top of the second, Moya tripled to right to start the inning. On Shelbi Audsley's (Prescott Valley, Ariz.) single to right, Moya scored to make it 3-0.
 
USM would score their first run in the bottom of the fourth and then exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fifth to lead 6-3.
 
Neither team would score in the sixth inning. In the top of the seventh, Hartman reached on a walk and went to second when Hazen singled to left. Elizabeth Nelson (Adams) reached on a walk to load the bases. After a coaching coach, Hannah Mitchel (Nebraska City) hit a sac fly to right to drive in Hartman to cut the lead to 6-4. Two outs later, the Spires had won.
 
USM scored their six runs on nine hits and did not commit any errors. The 'Cats scored their four runs on 12 hits and had two hits.
 
Farrell, Carlos, Hazen, and Moya each had two hits to lead the Bobcats. Farrell, Carlos, Mitchel, and Audsley each had one RBI.
 
Hartman started on the mound and was tagged for the loss. She threw 4.2 innings and allowed 7 hits, 6 runs – 3 earned, and struck out 3. Moya relieved Hartman and threw 1.1 innings. She allowed just 2 hits.
 
Upcoming Games
 
The Bobcats are in Hillsboro, Kan., on Thursday to face Tabor in a double header beginning at 2:30 p.m.  The Bluejays are currently 3-12 on the season having lost six contests in a row.
 
On Saturday, Peru State will be in Canton, Mo., to take on Culver-Stockton in the first Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) action which will begin at 1 p.m. The Wildcats are 2-7 having won their last game after losing seven in a row.
 
It will be non-conference action again on Sunday when the 'Cats will be in Lawrence, Kan., to battle with Haskell Indian Nations University at 2:30 p.m. The Fighting Indians are 4-5 on the year and have won their last three games in a row.