(Peru, Neb.) – While both games were close, the Mount Mercy softball team swept the visiting Bobcats on Saturday in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
 
The Mustangs took the first game 6-5 and then won the second game 5-3.
 
With the win, Mount Mercy improved to 23-18 overall and are 12-10 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) North Division. Peru State fell to 9-23 on the year and are now 4-14 in the Heart North.
 
Game One Action
 
The Bobcats jumped on the Mustangs in the top of the first inning. Tyler Farrell (Brandon, Fla.) singled to shallow left-center to start the game. Regan Kirby (Gretna) singled to shallow left with Farrell stopping at second. Megan Hartman (Lincoln) followed with a double to deep right-center with Farrell scoring and Kirby stopping at third. Rachel Carlos (Kaneohe, Hawaii) reached on a walk to load the bases. After an out, Sandy Garcia (Strasburg, Colo.) singled to left-center to drive in Kirby with Hartman advancing to third. On the play, there was an error allowing Hartman to score to make it 3-0.

 
Mount Mercy scored two in the bottom of the first to make it 3-2.
 
In the top of the second, after an out, Farrell homed over the center field fence on a 3-2 count to put the score at 4-2.
 
In the bottom of the second, the Mustangs added a run to stay within one at 4-3.
 
Carlos would reach on a walk to start the third inning and would go to second when Ally Hazen (North Platte) reached on an error. The base runners would advance on a sacrifice bunt by Garcia. On a ground out, Carlos would score to put the Bobcats up 5-3 at that point.
 
The Mustangs would tie it in the bottom of the fifth with a pair of runs. Later, in the bottom of the seventh, Mount Mercy would score the winning run.
 
Mount Mercy scored their six runs on eight hits and committed two errors. Peru State scored their five runs on six hits and also had two errors.
 
Farrell was the lone Bobcat to have two hits. Farrell, Hartman, Garcia, and Shelby Audsley (Prescott Valley, Ariz.) each had one RBI.
 
Morgan Ritchie (Lincoln) threw the first game and tossed six winnings while suffering the loss. Ritchie allowed eight hits, six runs – five earned, and struck out two.

MOUNT MERCY GM 1 GAME BOOK
 
Game Two Action
 
Again, the 'Cats scored first in the top of the first inning. Farrell singled to left and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kirby. After the second out, Carlos doubled to deep right-center which scored Farrell.
 
Mount Mercy would later score two runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 2-1 lead.

 
Peru State would come back in the top half of the third inning. Taylor Moya (Keenesburg, Colo.) walked to start the inning. After an out, Kirby singled to shallow left with Moya stopped at second. After the second out, Carlos singled to left-center to drive in Moya to tie the game at 2-2.
 
The Mustangs would regain the lead in the bottom of the inning by scoring a run to make it 3-2.
 
In the top of the fifth, Carlos would tie the game with a home run over the center field fence on a 2-1 count.
 
Mount Mercy would add one run in the bottom of the fifth and added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth to lead and eventually win 5-3.
 
The Mustangs scored their five runs on nine hits and committed one error. Peru State scored their three runs on five hits and did not commit any errors.
 
Carlos went three for three and had all three RBI in the game.
 
Hartman suffered the loss as she tossed a complete game. She allowed nine hits, five runs – three earned, and struck out two.

MOUNT MERCY GM 2 GAME BOOK
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will have a busy week. On Tuesday, the Bobcats will be hosting Grand View (Iowa) in a double header make-up beginning at 3 p.m. The Vikings are 20-5 on the year and are 10-3 in the Heart North.
 
Then, on Thursday, the 'Cats will travel to Des Moines to face Grand View in a double header beginning at 3 p.m.
 
Peru State will then host double headers on Saturday and Sunday, April 14 and 15, with games starting at 1 p.m. each day. On Saturday, Baker (Kan.) will be the visitors. The Wildcats are 25-6 on the year and are 14-4 in the Heart South.
 
On Sunday, Benedictine (Kan.) will be the visitors. The Ravens are 19-13 overall and are 9-11 in Heart South action.