(Peru, Neb.) – The Peru State softball team played three games in the Friends Quadrangular on Friday in Wichita, Kan. The Bobcats went 1-2 on the day.
 
The 'Cats fell to the home team 14-2 before shutting out Bethany (Kan.) 9-0 in six innings. In a competitive third game, Peru State fell to Doane 6-4.
 
On the season Peru State is now 1-5. Friends is 5-6, Bethany is 5-7, while Doane is now 6-4.
 
Friends Game Action
 
After the first out of the contest for the 'Cats, Jordynn Jimenez (Delano, Calif.) stepped to the plate and hit a home run to left on a 2-1 count to give Peru State an early 1-0 lead.

 
However, that would be short-lived as Friends would score five in the bottom of the first inning and would add seven more in the bottom of the second to go up 12-1. The Falcons would add another run in the bottom of the third to lead 13-1 after three complete innings.
 
In the top of the fourth Tyler Farrell (Brandon, Fla.) reached on a walk to start the top half of the frame. After two outs, Alyiah Franco (Syracuse, Utah) singled to center with Farrell advancing to second. Takia Walker (Enterprise, Ala.) stepped to the plate and produced a single to left which drove in Farrell for the only other Peru State run.
 
Friends would add one more in the bottom of the fourth for the final 14-2 score.
 
The Falcons scored their 14 runs on 13 hits and did not commit any errors. The Bobcats scored their two runs on four hits and had four errors.
 
Jimenez, Ally Hazen (North Platte), Franco, and Walker each were credited with one hit. Jimenez and Walker were each credited with one RBI.
 
Taylor Moya (Keenesburg, Colo.) threw the first 1.1 innings and was tagged for the loss. Moya allowed 9 hits and 12 runs – 9 earned. Morgan Ritchie (Lincoln) tossed 2 outs and allowed just 1 hit. Jennifer VanDeWalle (Aurora) threw 1 inning. VanDeWalle gave up 1 hit, 1 earned run, and struck out 1. Bailey Bitz (Ravenna) threw the final inning. Bitz gave up 2 hits, 1 earned run, and struck out 1.

FRIENDS GAME BOOK
 
Bethany Game Action
 
Peru State scored in the first inning to start the contest.
 
Regan Kirby (Gretna) reached on a walk. After two outs, Hazen doubled to center to drive in Kirby. Ritchie singled to move Hazen to third. Franco followed with a single and Hazen scored to put the Bobcats up 2-0 at that point.
 
The 'Cats would come back and add runs in the top of the third. After an out, Ritchie doubled to right. Franco reached on a walk and then Walker reached on a fielder's choice with both base runners advancing to load the bases. Alena Montoya (Lakewood, Colo.) reached first with Ritchie forced out at home. Payton Beckmann (Syracuse) singled to left to score Franco. Kirby would reach with a walk to drive in Walker. After a pitching change, Jimenez singled to short to drive in Montoya and the Bobcats would lead 5-0.

 
In the top of the sixth, Jimenez singled to left to start the inning. Farrell singled to left to move Jimenez to second. On a wild pitch, Jimenez moved to third. After an out, Ritchie singled to short to drive in Jimenez with Farrell moving to second. Franco doubled to bring home Farrell with Ritchie advancing to third. Walker would follow with a single to short to drive in Ritchie. After a pitching change and another out, Beckmann singled to left and Franco scored to make the final score of 9-0.
 
Peru State scored its nine runs on 14 hits and did not commit any errors. The Swedes had two hits in the contest and committed one error.
 
Ritchie went 3 for 4 to lead the team. Jimenez, Franco, Walker, and Beckmann each had two hits. Beckmann and Franco each drove in two runs while Kirby, Jimenez, Hazen, Ritchie, and Walker were each credited with one.
 
Alana Krieser (Lincoln) was the winning pitcher as she threw a complete game. Krieser allowed just two hits in the game.
 
The shutout was the first since the Bobcats topped Nebraska Wesleyan 2-0 on March 22 of last year.

BETHANY GAME BOOK
 
Doane Game Action
 
The Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 lead over Peru State by scoring three runs in the top of the first.
 
In the bottom of the second, the Bobcats would get on the board. Franco started things off with a single to short. Walker singled to left with Franco moving to second. Montoya singled to score Franco on the throw. Moya reached on a walk to load the bases. Kirby singled to left to drive in Walker. Jimenez followed with a single to tie the score as the Bobcats left the bases loaded with one out.
 
Doane would regain the lead with two runs in the top of the fifth to go up 5-3.
 
Peru State would cut the lead to one in the bottom of the fifth. Farrell doubled to right and was brought home when Hazen doubled. Again, the 'Cats left the bases loaded and trailed 5-4 at that point.
 
The Tigers would add an insurance run in the top of the seventh for the final 6-4 win.
 
Doane scored its six runs on 11 hits and did not commit any errors. Peru State scored its four runs on 11 hits and had five miscues.

 
Jimenez, Farrell, Hazen, and Walker each had two hits to lead Peru State. Kirby, Jimenez, and Hazen were each credited with one RBI.
 
Ritchie suffered the loss after tossing a complete game. She allowed 11 hits, six runs – four earned, and struck out one.

DOANE BOX SCORE
 
Upcoming Contests
 
As it has been already for most of the season, Mother Nature will determine how much the Bobcats will play this week. Peru State is scheduled to play Tabor (Kan.) on Wednesday, but it is to be below freezing that day. On Thursday, the 'Cats are scheduled to play Southwestern in Winfield which looks doable at this point with 47 degrees forecasted, but who knows what happens in between! The Bluejays of Tabor are presently 1-3 on the year. The Moundbuilders are off to a 3-5 start.
 
On March 12, the Bobcats are scheduled to play their first Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) action in Baldwin City, Kan., against Baker.