(Peru, Neb.) – On one of the better days in several weeks to play a baseball game, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) (MNU) and Peru State split a double header.
 
The Pioneers took the first game 15-9 after scoring 11 runs in the final two innings. Peru State came back to hammer MNU 14-2 in the second game.
 
This was a Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) cross-divisional matchup. With the split, MNU is now 19-13 on the year and are 14-8 in the Heart South. The Bobcats are 21-12 overall and are 13-9 in the Heart North.
 
Game One Action
 
The Pioneers struck first with a run in the second and then added three in the top of the third to lead 4-0.
 
Peru State would score its first run in the bottom of the third. Chaz Dunn (Falls City) doubled to deep left-center. After the second out which was a ground out, Dunn went to third. He would later score on a wild pitch.
The 'Cats would erupt in the bottom of the fourth inning for six runs to take a 7-4 lead at that point. Bryan Ventura Castro (Carolina, Puerto Rico) singled thru the hole at shortstop. After an out, Ventura Castro stole second. Darren Hasch (Destin, Fla.) double deep down the left field line to drive in Ventura Castro. Seth Thomason (Crestview, Fla.) reached on an error with Hasch scoring on the error. On a wild pitch, Thomason moved to second. Edwin Muniz (Dorado, Puerto Rico) reached on a fielder's choice with Thomason being tagged out. Dunn followed with a single with Muniz moving to third. Dunn would then steal second. Jordan Kelly (Omaha) reached on a walk. Joshua Banuelos (Moreno Valley, Calif.) reached on an error which allowed both Muniz, Dunn, and Kelly all to score. Gianfranco Garlobo (Carolina, Puerto Rico) singled to right with Banuelos scoring. Ventura Castro came back up and single with Garlobo moving to second. The two then had a double steal but were left on base when the next batter grounded out.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Hasch started with a single to right and would later go to third when Thomason singled to right. Muniz was hit by a pitch to lead the bases. After an out, Kelly reached on a fielder's choice with Hasch scoring to make it 8-4 at that point.
 
MidAmerica Nazarene would tie it in the top of the sixth inning with four runs. Then, in the top of the seventh, the Pioneers plated seven runs to make the lead 15-8 at that point.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, after an out, Hasch reached on a walk. After the second out, Hasch went to second on a wild pitch. On an error, Hasch scored for the final run of the game.
 
MNU scored their 15 runs on 13 hits and had three errors. Peru State scored their nine runs on nine hits and committed a season-high seven errors.
 
Ventura Castro, Hasch, Thomason, and Dunn each had two hits to lead the Bobcats. Kelly, Garlobo, Hasch, and Muniz were each credited with one RBI.
 
Javier Vazquez (Mayaguez, Puerto Rico) threw the first 3 innings. Vazquez allowed 5 hits, 4 runs – 2 earned, and struck out 2. Joshua Santiago (Carolinga, Puerto Rico) went 2.2 innings and allowed 2 hits, 4 runs – none earned, and struck out 3. Cragin Missak (Bellevue) threw the final 1.1 innings and was tagged for the loss. Missak allowed 6 hits, 7 runs – 5 earned, and struck out 1.

MIDAMERICA NAZARENE GM 1 GAME BOOK
 
Second Game Action
 
In game two, Peru State was able to score first in the bottom half of the first inning.
 
Kelly started the inning off with a single to right center and went to second on a ground out. Garlobo reached with a walk and then Kelly went to third on a sacrifice fly. Eric Ocasio (San Juan, Puerto Rico) singled to left to drive in Kelly to make it 1-0.

 
The 'Cats would add runs in the bottom of the second. After an out, Dunn reached on a walk. After the second out, Kelly reached on a walk. Banuelos singled thru the hole at shortstop to drive in Dunn with Kelly advancing to third. Jaime Del Hoyo (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) entered to run for Kelly and would score on a passed ball. Garlobo was hit by a pitch and then Ventura Castro hit a three-run home run over the left field fence on the first pitch to make it 6-0.
 
MNU would score one run in the top of the third to cut the lead to 6-1.
 
The Bobcats would have another five-run inning in the bottom of the fourth. Ventura Castro tripled to deep right-center and then Ocasio followed with a double to deep left-center to drive in Ventura Castro. Muniz entered to run for Ocasio. Hasch was hit by a pitch which then forced a pitching change. After the pitching change, Thomason was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Dunn reached on a walk to drive in Muniz. On a wild pitch, Hasch score with Thomason and Dunn advancing one base. After the second out, Del Hoyo reached on a walk. Banuelos doubled shallow down the left field line with Thomason and Dunn scoring to make it 11-1 at that point.
 
The Pioneers would score their final run in the top of the fifth to put the score at 11-2.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Ocasio homered over the left field fence on a 0-1 count to make it 12-2.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, after two outs, Garlobo reached on a walk. Ventura Castro would reach on an error with Garlobo moving to third. Ocasio singled to left to drive in the base runners for the final 14-2 score.
 
Peru State scored their 14 runs on 11 hits and did not commit any errors in the second game. MNU scored their two runs on eight hits and committed one error.
 
Ocasio went five for five and drove in five to lead the Bobcats. Ventura Castro and Banuelos each added two hits and both drove in three RBI. Dunn was credited with the other RBI.
 
Eddy Tavarez Cabrera (San Cristobel, Dominican Republic) threw six innings and earned the win. Tavarez Cabrera allowed seven hits, two earned runs, and struck out ten. Tyler Wheelock (Bellevue) tossed the final inning. Wheelock allowed one hit and struck out one.

MIDAMERICA NAZARENE GM 2 GAME BOOK
 
Upcoming Games
 
The 'Cats will head to Orange City, Iowa, to face Northwestern in one nine-inning contest beginning at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. The Red Raiders are 15-14 overall.
 
Due to Mother Nature, Saturday's games have been moved to Friday. Peru State will Central Methodist (Mo.) in a double header beginning at 1 p.m. The Eagles are the only team in the Heart who are nationally ranked as they are presently 24^th in the Coaches' Top 25 Poll. Central Methodist is currently 28-8 overall and are 16-4 in the Heart South. The Eagles are on a six-game winning streak.
 
Peru State will then play two non-conference games before heading back into Heart action. On Monday, April 16, the 'Cats will travel to York to face the Panthers in one nine-inning game beginning at 5 p.m. Then, the next day, the Bobcats will be in Sterling, Kan., to face Sterling College.