(Peru, Neb.) – The long trip which included a bus delay on the way down turned out to be longer for the Peru State baseball team as they dropped four games to Wayland Baptist (WBU) this weekend in Plainview, Texas.
 
WBU won 11-5 and 9-2 on Friday and then topped the 'Cats 9-8 and 13-3 on Saturday.
 
The Pioneers, who received votes in the initial baseball coaches' poll, improved to 8-3 on the season. Peru State fell to 2-6 on the year.
 
Friday Game One Action

 
The Pioneers scored one in each of the first two innings to take an early 2-0 lead.
 
In the top of the third, after an out, Zach Nolin (Bonifay, Fla.) doubled to right center. On a ground out, Nolin moved to third. Darren Hasch (Destin, Fla.) singled up the middle to drive in Nolin to cut the lead to 2-1. Adam Cendejas (Chino Hills, Calif.) walked with Hasch moving to second. Jesus Tavarez (Santo Domingo, D.R.) singled to drive in Hasch to tie the score at 2-2.
 
WBU would regain the lead in the bottom of the third by adding a run.
 
In the top of the fourth, after an out, Jose Chacin (Machiques, Venezuela) walked. Luis Landaeta (Polamar, Venezuela) entered to run for Chacin. Chaz Dunn (Falls City) also walked to move Landaeta to second. Joshua Banuelos (Moreno Valley, Calif.) singled down the left field line to once again tie the score.
 
The Pioneers would garner four runs in the bottom of the fourth to go up 7-3 at that point.
 
Hasch homered to start the fifth inning for the Bobcats. Cendejas singled and went to second on an error. Austin Greenfield (Omaha) entered to run for Cendejas. Tavarez reached on an error and Greenfield was able to score what would be Peru State's final run of the game.
 
Wayland Baptist would add four runs in the bottom of the inning to make the final score 11-5.
 
The 'Cats had the bases loaded in the top of the sixth but could not capitalize.
 
WBU scored their 11 runs on 13 hits and committed two errors. Peru State scored their five runs on ten this and had two miscues.
 
Nolin, Banuelos, Hasch, and Cendejas each finished with two hits to lead the team. Hasch was credited with two RBI.
 
Eddy Tavarez-Cabrera (San Cristobel, Dominican Republic) tossed 3 innings and was tagged for the loss. Tavarez-Cabrera allowed 6 hits, 6 earned runs, and struck out 6. Alfredo Barroso (Hialeah, Fla.) threw 2 outs. Barroso allowed 2 hits and 1 earned run. Felix Rodriguez (Carolina, Puerto Rico) tossed 1 out. Rodriguez gave up 3 hits and 4 earned runs. Jose Mendez (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) threw 1 inning. Mendez allowed 2 hits and struck out 1. Carlos Gonzalez (Gurabo, Puerto Rico) threw the final inning and did not allow any hits.

WBU FRIDAY GM 1 GAME BOOK
 
Friday Game Two Action
 
The Pioneers scored one run in the bottom of the second and third to go up 2-0 after three innings.

 
The Bobcats would score their runs in the top of the fourth. Nolin doubled to left center to start the frame. After an out, Hasch walked. Cendejas was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Tavarez doubled down the right field line to drive in two base runners to tie the score at 2-2.
 
WBU scored three runs in the bottom the fifth and added four runs in the bottom of the sixth to win 9-2.
 
The Pioneers scored their nine runs on ten hits and had no errors. The 'Cats scored their two runs on five hits and finished with three errors.
 
Nolin led the team with two hits while Tavarez had two RBI.
 
Ben Carr (Omaha) threw the first 2.2 innings and was tagged for the loss. Carr gave up 5 hits, 2 runs – 1 earned, and struck out 3. Zach Pinkerton (Beatrice) threw 2.1 innings and allowed 3 hits, 3 runs – 2 earned, and struck out 2. Tyler Wheelock (Omaha) tossed the final inning. Wheelock allowed 2 hits and 4 runs – 2 earned.

WBU FRIDAY GM 2 GAME BOOK
 
Saturday Game One Action
 
Abner Vincenty (Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico) singled to left field after an out. Tavarez followed with a single to move Vincenty to third. Cendejas reached on a fielder's choice and Vincenty scored to put Peru State up 1-0.
 
The Pioneers went off in the bottom of the second by scoring seven runs forcing the 'Cats to fight back the rest of the game.
 
Peru State would cut into the lead in the top of the second. After an out, Edwin Muniz (Dorado, Puerto Rico) singled to left center. Landaeta came in to run for Muniz. Dunn bunted to third to reach base. Nolin homered to clear the bases to make the score 7-4.
 
The Bobcats would tie the game in the top of the fifth. After an out, Tavarez walked and then went to second on a wild pitch. Cendejas walked and then Hasch homered to put the 'Cats in a tie at 7-7.
 
The 'Cats would take the lead in the top of the sixth. Muniz earned a walk and Landaeta came in to run for him. On a ground out, Landaeta advanced to second. Landaeta would then move to third on a fly ball out. Vincenty reached on an error to score Landaeta. Peru State led 8-7 at that point.
 
WBU would not score until the bottom of the seventh when they rallied for two runs to win the game 9-8.
 
Wayland Baptist scored their nine runs on nine hits and had two errors. Peru State scored their eight runs on seven hits and also committed two errors.
 
Hasch was the lone Bobcat to have two hits and also led the team with three RBI. Nolin also finished with three RBI.
 
Alberto Rosario (Carolina, Puerto Rico) threw the first 4 innings for Peru State. Rosario allowed 5 hits, 7 runs – 6 earned, and struck out 4. Reiner Mendez (Barquisimeto, Venezuela) tossed 1 inning and allowed just 2 hits. Gonzalez threw the final 1.1 innings and suffered the loss. Gonzalez allowed 2 hits, 2 earned runs, and struck out 1.

WBU SATURDAY GM 1 GAME BOOK
Saturday Game Two Action
 
Once again, the Bobcats scored first. In the top of the first inning, Nolin tripled to left field. On Vincenty's fly out drove in Nolin. Tavarez singled. Sterling Rupp (Grand Island) singled to advance Julian Fernandez (Middle Village, N.Y.) to second after coming in to run for Vincenty. Hasch singled to right field to drive in Fernandez to make the score 2-0.
 
WBU tied the score with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning.
 
The Pioneers would add three in the bottom of the second to take the lead at 5-2. WBU would add five more runs in the bottom of the fourth to extend their lead to 10-2.
 
In the top of the fifth, Fernandez started the inning with a single to center field. Rupp followed with a single with Fernandez moving to second. Hasch reached on a fielder's choice with Rupp out at second and Fernandez moving to third. Banuelos singled to right field to drive in Fernandez for what would be Peru State's final score of the series.
 
Wayland Baptist added two runs in the bottom of the fifth and one more in the bottom of the sixth for the final score of 13-3.
 
WBU scored their 13 runs on 13 hits and committed two errors. Peru State also had 13 hits, but only scored three runs and committed just one error.
 
Nolin, Rupp, and Hasch each had two hits to lead the Bobcats. Vincenty, Hasch, and Banuelos each were credited with one RBI.
 
Joshua Santiago (Carolina, Puerto Rico) threw the first 3.1 innings and suffered the loss. Santiago allowed 8 hits, 8 runs – 7 earned, and struck out 2. Pinkerton tossed 1 out and allowed 2 hits and 2 earned runs. Ricky Broxson (Panama City, Fla.) threw 1.1 innings. Broxson gave up 3 hits, 2 earned runs, and struck out 3. Wade Witt (Salem) tossed 2 outs and did not allow any hits. Stephen Wilkie (Bellevue) allowed 1 earned run. Barroso threw the final out and struck out 1.

WBU SATURDAY GM 2 GAME BOOK
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will travel to the panhandle of Oklahoma this weekend to face Oklahoma Panhandle State in a four-game series with two games each on Friday and Saturday. The Aggies are 6-7 on the season having lost their last two games.
 
The following weekend the Bobcats are scheduled to open their home and Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) season. Peru State is scheduled to host the Yellowjackets on March 2 and 3 with a three-game series beginning at 1 p.m. each day. The 'Jackets opened their season on Valentine's Day with a pair of losses.