(Peru, Neb.) – What was to be a home double header turned out to be an away set of games for the Peru State baseball team on Sunday. The Bobcats were to have hosted Missouri Valley and Central Methodist (Mo.) this weekend, but snow on the ground forced an agreement between the teams to swap home series for this year and next.
 
The games would be settled by the same score as the Vikings took game one 8-7 with the Bobcats taking the second contest.
 
Peru State is now 5-9 overall and 3-1 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). Mo Valley is 6-6 on the season and 1-1 in conference play.
 
First Game Action
 
The Bobcats were able to get on the board to start the first game in the top of the first inning. Jesus Tavarez (Santa Domingo, D.R.) singled to the infield and would go to second on a ground out. On another ground out, Tavarez moved to third. He would later score the first run of the game on a passed ball.

 
In the top of the second, Peru State would score again. After two outs, Eddy Pimental (San Juan, P.R.) reached on a walk. Edwin Muniz (Dorado, P.R.) doubled to deep left-center with Pimental stopping at third. Luis Landaeta (Porlamar, Venezuela) entered to run for Muniz. Joshua Banuelos (Moreno Valley, Calif.) singled to drive in Pimental with Landaeta moving to third. Landaeta would eventually score on a wild throw. Tavarez would come back to the plate and doubled over the right field fence on a 1-0 count to put Peru State up 5-0 at that point.

The Vikings would eventually tie the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the fourth as they plated five runs.
 
In the top of the sixth, the 'Cats would break the tie. Julian Fernandez (Middle Village, N.Y.) tripled to deep right to start the inning. On a wild pitch, Fernandez would score. That would be the only run scored as the Bobcats would fall victim to a double play.
 
Peru State would add an insurance run in the top of the seventh. After two outs, Darren Hasch (Destin, Fla.) doubled deep down the left field line. Austin Greenfield (Omaha) came in to run for Hasch. Adam Cendejas (Chino Hills, Calif.) singled to left to drive in Greenfield to make the score 7-5.
 
Unfortunately for the Bobcats, they had two outs on Missouri Valley in the bottom of the seventh, but gave up a three-run home run allowing the Vikings to win the game 8-7.
 
Missouri Valley scored their eight runs on six hits and had one error. Peru State scored their seven runs on ten hits and also had one miscue.
 
Tavarez led the Bobcats going three for four with two RBI. Muniz and Banuelos each added two hits with Banuelos driving in one RBI. Cendejas was credited with Peru State's other RBI.
 
Alberto Rosario (Carolina, P.R.) started the game for the 'Cats on the mound. Rosario tossed 3.1 innings and allowed 4 hits, 5 runs – 3 earned, and struck out 3. Zach Pinkerton (Beatrice) threw 1.2 innings and allowed just 1 hit while striking out 4. Reiner Mendez (Barquisimeto, Venezuela) threw the sixth inning and did not allow any hits. Ben Carr (Omaha) threw the seventh inning and was tagged for the loss. Carr allowed just 1 hit, but it was the 3-run homer. He struck out one.

MO VALLEY GM 1 GAME BOOK
 
Second Game Action
 
Like they did in the first game, Peru State would score first. After an out, Chaz Dunn (Falls City) reached on a walk. After another out, Cendejas reached on a walk. Dunn would later score on a wild pitch to put the Bobcats up 1-0 at that point.

 
In the top of the second, the Bobcats would add more runs. Zach Nolin (Bonifay, Fla.) reached on a walk and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jaime Del Hoyo (Pembroke Pines, Fla.). On a ground out, Nolin went to third. Banuelos would reach on a walk to put runners on the corners. Tavarez singled to right to drive in Nolin with Banuelos stopping at second. On a passed ball, both base runners advanced. Dunn would again get on board with a walk to load the bases. Hasch was hit by a pitch to drive in Banuelos. Cendejas would get a walk as well to score Tavarez and eventually the 'Cats led 4-0.
 
The Vikings would plate three runs in the bottom of the second to cut the score to 4-3.
 
Peru State would get back on the board in the top of the third. Nolin doubled to right to start the frame and would go to third on a passed ball. After an out, Jose Chacin (Machiques, Venezuela) was hit by a pitch. Landaeta entered to run for Chacin at that point. On a passed by, Landaeta moved to second. On a ground out, Nolin scored to make it 5-3. Tavarez came to the plate and hit a two-run home run over the right field fence on a 0-1 count to put the Bobcats up 7-3 at that point.
 
Missouri Valley would score two runs in the bottom of the fourth to get back within two at 7-5.
 
Later, in the top of the sixth, Dunn singled up the middle to start the inning. Hasch would hit a sacrifice bunt to move Dunn to second. Cendejas would single to drive in Dunn which would be Peru State's final run of the game.
 
Mo Valley would make the game close in the bottom of the seventh as they scored two runs and actually had two base runners left on base at the end of the game.
 
The 'Cats scored their eight runs on nine hits and had no errors. In an interesting stat line, the Vikings scored their seven runs on just two hits and also did not commit any errors.
 
Tavarez and Sterling Rupp (Grand Island) each had two hits to lead Peru State. Tavarez was credited with a game-high three RBI while Cendejas finished with two.
 
Eddy Tavarez Cabrera (San Cristobel, D.R.) started the game and earned the win despite having a challenging day on the mound. Tavarez Cabrera only allowed one hit, but gave up five earned runs as he walked eight. However, Tavarez Cabrera continued his strikeout efforts as he mowed down 11 batters. Felix Rodriguez (Carolina, P.R.) tossed one inning and did not allow any hits. Carlos Gonzalez (Gurabo, P.R.) threw one out, but was responsible for one hit and two earned runs. Tyler Wheelock (Omaha) threw the final two outs and earned the save as he did not allow any hits or base runners.

MO VALLEY GM 2 GAME BOOK
 
Upcoming Contests
 
It is hard to say what Mother Nature will do with this week's schedules even with the changes which have been forced to this point.
 
Peru State was scheduled to play in Sterling, Kan., against Sterling on Tuesday. However, that game has been cancelled. In addition, the Bobcats were to host York on Wednesday, but that game, too, has been cancelled.
 
The Bobcats will play this weekend in Joplin, Mo., against Grand View. It was to be a home contest for the Vikings, but the field conditions in Des Moines would not allow for play there so the teams agreed to head south. There will be two game played on Saturday and one played on Sunday. Currently, Grand View is 2-4 on the year and are 1-1 in the Heart having split with MidAmerica Nazarene earlier last week.