(Peru, Neb.) – As they have done a couple of times this season, the Peru State baseball team put together a late rally in the top of the seventh. However, the Bobcats fell one run short and lost the second game against William Penn (WPU) in Oskaloosa, Iowa, on Saturday.
 
The 'Cats took the opener 5-2 as the two teams split the four-game series.
 
Peru State finished its regular season 28-18 and 18-13 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) North Division. The Statesmen's season is over with a 15-30 overall record and an 8-22 finish in the Heart North. WPU will not make the post-season tournament as they finished last in the Heart North.
 
After all games were concluded on Saturday, the Bobcats find themselves as the sixth seed in the tournament.

 
Game One Action
 
Peru State scored first in the top of the third inning. Chaz Dunn (Falls City) reached on a walk and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jordan Kelly (Omaha). On a ground out, Dunn went to third. Gianfranco Garlobo (Carolina, Puerto Rico) reached on an error with Dunn scoring on the play.
 
The Bobcats would get on the board again in the top of the fourth inning. After an out, Darren Hasch (Destin, Fla.) homered to left on the first pitch he saw. Seth Thomason (Holt, Fla.) was then hit by a pitch. After the second out, Dunn singled thru the hole at shortstop with Thomason stopping at second. Kelly followed with a single up the middle to drive in Thomason with Dunn moving to third and Kelly going to second on the throw. Joshua Banuelos (Moreno Valley, Calif.) singled up the middle to drive in Dunn and Kelly to make it 5-0.
 
The 'Cats would get out of trouble in the bottom of the sixth as the Statesmen left the bases loaded. Peru State would strand a pair of runners in the top of the seventh before allowing William Penn to score two in the bottom of the frame for the final score of 5-2.
 
Peru State scored their five runs on eight hits and did not commit any errors. The Statesmen scored their two runs on six hits and had one miscue.
 
Eight different Bobcats each had one hit. Banuelos was credited with two RBI while Kelly and Hasch each had one RBI.

 
Cory Royer (Las Vegas) tossed a complete game for the win. Royer allowed six hits, two earned runs, and struck out six.

WILLIAM PENN GM 1 GAME BOOK
 
Game Two Action
 
Kelly started things off with a home run on the first pitch he saw in the top of the first to put the Bobcats up 1-0.
 
The Statesmen tied it at 1-1 in the bottom of the second.
 
In the top of the third, Edwin Muniz (Dorado, Puerto Rico) singled to right to start the inning. Muniz would move to second on a sacrifice bunt by Dunn. On a wild pitch, Muniz would move to third. Banuelos would hit a sacrifice fly to fly to drive in Muniz to put the Bobcats up 2-1 at that point.
 
WPU would score five in the bottom of the third to take a 6-2 lead.
 
Peru State would get one run back in the top of the fourth. After an out, Eric Ocasio (San Juan, Puerto Rico) hit a home run to left to make it 6-3.
 
Later, in the bottom of the fifth, the Statesmen plated two more runs to put the score at 8-3.
 
In the top of the seventh, Peru State rallied. After an out, Kelly was hit by a pitch. Banuelos reached on an error. Garlobo singled to center with Kelly scoring and Banuelos stopping at second. The two base runners then had a double steal. Bryan Ventura Castro (Carolina, Puerto Rico) singled to short to drive in Banuelos with Garlobo advancing to third. On a ground out, Garlobo scored to make it 8-6. Hasch reached on an error with Ventura Castro scoring to pull the 'Cats within one. But, that was where the rally ended.
 
William Penn scored their eight runs on ten hits and committed four errors. Peru State scored their seven runs on six hits and committed one miscue.
 
Six different Bobcats had one hit in the loss with Ocasio leading the team with two RBI.

 
Joshua Santiago (Carolina, Puerto Rico) started on the mound for the 'Cats and threw 2.2 innings while being tagged for the loss. Santiago allowed 5 hits, 6 earned runs, and struck out 2. Andrew Robinson (Imperial Beach, Calif.) came in and threw 1.2 innings. Robinson allowed 2 hits, 2 earned runs, and struck out 1. Javier Vazquez (Mayaguez, Puerto Rico) went 1.1 innings. Vazquez gave up 3 hits and struck out 1. Alfredo Barroso (Hialeah, Fla.) tossed the final out and did not allow any hits or runs.

WILLIAM PENN GM 2 GAME BOOK
 
Upcoming Conference Championship
 
With the sixth seed, Peru State will face the third-seeded Grand View Vikings at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday night. With a win, they will face either Clarke or the seventh-seeded team which will be determined by a game played on Tuesday on Thursday at 7:45 p.m. With a loss, the 'Cats would play at 1:15 on Thursday.
 
The championship is a double-elimination tournament after the opening games on Tuesday.