(Peru, Neb.) – For the first time this season, the Peru State Bobcat softball team swept a Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) double header. The 'Cats took 7-1 and 10-7 wins over the visiting Missouri Valley Vikings.
 
With the wins, Peru State improves to 9-21 on the season and are 4-12 in the Heart North. The Vikings fell to 8-20 and 0-16 in the Heart South.
 
First Game Action
 
After an out in the bottom of the second, Ally Hazen (North Platte) singled to shallow right. On a passed ball, Hazen went to second. Shelbi Audsley (Prescott Valley, Ariz.) reached on a walk as did Morgan Ritchie (Lincoln) to load the bases. Taylor Moya (Keenesburg, Ariz.) reached on a fielder's choice with Hazen being forced out at home. Alexis Paulo-Meyers (Waianae, Hawaii) singled to the pitcher's mound to drive in Audsley to make it 1-0.

 
After two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Ritchie singled to third. Moya followed with a single to the infield with Ritchie advancing to second. Paulo-Meyers singled to right-center to drive in Ritchie with Moya going to third. Paulo-Meyers then went to second with a stolen base. Regan Kirby (Gretna) reached on an error with Moya scoring as did Paulo-Meyers. After a pitching change, Tyler Farrell (Brandon, Fla.) doubled to deep left to score Kirby. Rachel Carlos (Kaneohe, Hawaii) reached on a walk. Megan Hartman (Lincoln) singled thru the hole at shortstop to load the bases, but Farrell was able to score on the throws. After the end of the inning, the 'Cats led 6-0.
 
Mo Valley would score their lone run in the top of the sixth. In the bottom of the inning, Carlos hit a home run over the center field fence on a 2-0 count for the final 7-1 score.
 
Peru State scored its seven runs on 11 hits and did not commit any errors. The Vikings scored their lone run on six hits and had one error.
 
Paulo-Meyers and Ritchie each had two hits to lead the Bobcats. Paulo-Meyers was credited with two RBI while Farrell and Carlos each added one RBI.
 
Ritchie was the winning pitcher as she threw one of best games of the season. She allowed six hits, one earned run, and struck out one.
 
Second Game Action
 
Missouri Valley scored two in the top of the first, but the Bobcats answered in the bottom half of the inning.
 
Paulo-Meyers singled to start the inning, but was forced out with a fielder's choice with Kirby getting on base. After the second out, Carlos walked. Hartman reached on an error which allowed both Kirby and Carlos to score to tie the game at 2-2.
 
In the bottom of the second, the 'Cats took the lead. Audsley singled to shallow left-center, but was forced out on an Elizabeth Nelson (Adams) bunt. Moya reached on a walk with Nelson moving to second. Paulo-Meyers stepped to the plate and hit a three-run home run over the center field place on a 2-2 count to make it 5-2.
 
Peru State would add some insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth inning which proved to be needed. Sandy Garcia (Strasburg, Colo.) singled to left-center to start the inning and went to second when Audsley reached with a bunt. After an out, Moya loaded the bases. On a 3-1 count, Paulo-Meyers then hit a grand slam to make it 9-2.
 
In the top of the sixth, the Vikings scored two to cut the lead to 9-4.
 

In the bottom of the same frame, Carlos doubled to deep center to start the inning. Hartman singled to shallow center with Carlos moving to third. Garcia reached on a walk to load the bases. Audsley reached with a fielder's choice with Carlos thrown out at home. Nelson hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Hartman to put the score at 10-4.
 
Missouri Valley would add three runs in the top of the seventh, but left two on base as Peru State won 10-7.
 
The 'Cats scored their ten runs on 11 hits and committed two errors. Mo Valley scored their seven runs on ten hits and had one error.
 
Paulo-Meyers led the Bobcats by going four for four and driving in seven RBI. Carlos and Audsley each added two hits while Hartman drove in two RBI.
 
Hartman was the winning pitcher as threw a complete game. She allowed ten hits, seven runs – five earned, and struck out three.
 
Upcoming Games
 
Mother Nature permitting, Peru State is to host Grand View (Iowa) on Tuesday for a double header beginning at 2 p.m. The Vikings, who are receiving votes in the most recent coaches' poll, are 19-5 overall and are now 9-3 in the Heart North having won their last six games.
 
The Bobcats will then be off until the weekend when they go on their long road trip to eastern Iowa. On Saturday, Peru State will be facing Mount Mercy in Cedar Rapids. The Mustangs are 21-18 on the year and are 10-10 in the Heart North. Then, on Saturday the 'Cats will be in Dubuque to take on Clarke. The Pride are 8-18 on the year and are 6-8 in the Heart North.