(Peru, Neb.) – A rainy and dreary start to the day on Saturday turned out to be a bright one in the sense that the Peru State softball team pulled off a sweep of the visiting Culver-Stockton Wildcats.
 
Perhaps it was the Senior Day or the Coach Mathews Tribute, but the Bobcats took down the Wildcats 10-9 in the first game and then won the second game 13-12 in nine innings. The two games lasted way longer than the two baseball games going on at the same time – a first at least in eight years.
 
With the pair of wins, Peru State improved to 12-29 overall and 7-20 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). The Wildcats dropped to 25-22 and 17-13 after the losses. Culver-Stockton is also in the Heart North Division.
 
Game One Action
 
It was back and forth during the entire game.
 
After the Wildcats scored one in the top of the first, the Bobcats did the same in the bottom of the inning. Tyler Farrell (Brandon, Fla.) singled thru the hole at shortstop and would go to second when Regan Kirby (Gretna) singled thru the hole at shortstop as well. After an out, Rachel Carlos (Kaneohe, Hawaii) loaded the bases with a walk. Sandy Garcia (Strasburg, Colo.) also reached with a walk to drive in Farrell. Unfortunately, the Bobcats left the bases load, but the game was tied at 1-1.  
Culver-Stockton would regain the lead in the top of the second with a run.
 
Peru State would counter in the bottom of the second with a two-out solo home run by Farrell over the center field fence on a 2-2 count.
 
The Wildcats would score two in the top of the third to lead 4-2.
 
In the bottom of the third, Garcia was hit by a pitch and then went to second on a wild pitch. Ally Hazen (North Platte) singled to left with Garcia stopping at third. Garcia would later score on an error to make it 4-3.
 
Culver-Stockton would add two more runs in the top of the fourth to increase their lead to 6-3.
 
The Bobcats would exploded in the bottom of the fourth inning. Farrell reached with a walk and after an out, would advance to second on a single up the middle by Megan Hartman (Lincoln). Carlos followed with a single to load the bases. Garcia would get another walk and Farrell would score the first run of the inning. Hazen followed with a single to drive in Hartman and the bases remained loaded. Shelbi Audsley (Prescott Valley, Ariz.) reached on a fielder's choice with Carlos scoring, but Hazen was forced out. Elizabeth Nelson (Adams) stepped to the plate and hit a three-run home run over the left field fence on a 1-2 count. When the inning was done, the Bobcats led 9-6.
The Wildcats did not give up as they scored one in the fifth and two in the top of the sixth to tie the game at 9-9.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Nelson would lead off with her second home run of the game to put the Bobcats up 10-9.
 
Peru State would hold the Wildcats scoreless in the top of the seventh inning – which ironically was the only inning in which they did not score.
 
The Bobcats scored their ten runs on 12 hits and committed one error. Culver-Stockton scored their nine runs on 15 hits and committed two errors.
 
Farrell, Carlos, Hazen, Nelson, and Moya each had two hits to lead the Bobcats. Nelson led the team with four RBI while Garcia was credited with two.
 
Hartman earned the win as she tossed a complete game. She allowed 15 hits, nine runs – eight earned, and struck out two.

CULVER-STOCKTON GM 1 GAME BOOK
 
Game Two Action
 
There were a few more scoreless frames in the second game, but it still produced six more runs than in the first game.
 
After Culver-Stockton scored two to start the game, Peru State scored the most runs in any inning this season as they plated nine in the bottom of the first.
Farrell reached with a walk to start the bottom half of the first. Kirby singled up the middle with Farrell stopping at second. Hartman singled to deep left-center to load the bases. Carlos reached on a walk to drive in Farrell. After a pitching change, there was an out. Hazen would step up and hit a single up the middle to drive in Kirby and Hartman with Carlos going to third. On a ground out, Hazen moved to second. Nelson would reach on a walk to again load the bases. Moya hit a single to right-center to drive in Carlos and Hazen with Nelson moving to third. Farrell came to the plate again and once again reached on a walk to load the bases. Kirby singled to shallow left-center with Nelson scoring. Hartman reached with a walk and Moya scored. On a passed ball, Farrell scored. Carlos got on with a walk and then Garcia singled up the middle to score Kirby.
 
When the first inning was finally done, the Bobcats led 9-2.
 
Neither team scored in the second, but the Wildcats plated five in the top of the third to put the score at 9-7. They would add another run in the top of the fourth to make it a one-run game. Then, in the top of the fifth, they added four runs to take a 12-9 lead.
 
Peru State would make a comeback in the bottom of the fifth. Farrell singled up the middle and would go to second when Kirby singled up the middle. Hartman doubled to deep center to drive in Farrell with Kirby stopping at third. Carlos singled thru the hole at shortstop to score Kirby to make it 12-11. On a ground out, Hartman scored to tie the game. The Bobcats would leave two on base in scoring position to end the frame.
 
Neither team would score in the sixth, seventh, or eighth although the Wildcats would leave two on base in the top of the eighth. Culver-Stockton would also have runners on second and third in the top of the eighth before having a fly foul ball out to end their chances.
In the bottom of the ninth, after two outs, Garcia hit a ball that looked like it might get out of the park, but finished it was a double to deep left-center. Sadi Howes (Denver) came in to run for Garcia and would later come home on a single by Hazen which was then misplayed by the left fielder for the walk-off win.
 
Peru State scored its 13 runs on 17 hits and committed three errors. Culver-Stockton scored their 12 runs on 14 hits and also had three errors.
 
Kirby led all batters as she went five for six and scored three runs to lead the Bobcats. Moya went three for five. Hartman, Carlos, Garcia, and Hazen each added two hits. Hartman, Carlos, Garcia, Hazen, and Moya each drove in two runs.
 
Morgan Ritchie (Lincoln) started the game and threw the first 4.2 innings. Ritchie allowed 11 hits, 11 runs – nine earned, and struck out two. Moya came in to relieve Ritchie and earned the win after throwing 4.1 innings. She allowed three hits, one earned run, and struck out one.

CULVER-STOCKTON GM 2 GAME BOOK
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will be playing 11 more games to finish the season – all of which will be Heart conference games. Those games will determine the fate of the Bobcats for potential post-season play.
 
The Bobcats will play a pair of double headers at home with Graceland (Iowa) at home on Tuesday beginning at 2 p.m. The Yellowjackets are presently 21-15 overall and are 11-14 in the Heart North.
 
On Wednesday, Peru State will host Benedictine on Wednesday with a double header beginning at 3:30 p.m. The Ravens are at .500 on the year at 21-21 and are 11-19 in the Heart South.
 
They will finish with games on the road. Peru State will play one make-up game with Baker at 5 p.m. on Friday. Then, they have double headers at MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), Avila (Mo.), and William Penn on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday respectively.