(Peru, Neb.) – A day after playing some of their best softball of the season, the Peru State softball team was swept by the visiting William Penn (Iowa) (WPU) Statesmen on Sunday.
 
The Statesmen won 10-2 and 11-2, both in five innings, to close out the third of three of double headers that the Bobcats hosted this weekend.
 
William Penn Improved to 18-24 overall and 9-13 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). The 'Cats fell to 6-30 on the season and are 5-21 in conference play.
 
First Game Action
 
WPU scored three runs in the top of the second to take an early lead.
 
In the bottom of the second, Alyiah Franco (Syracuse, Utah) singled up the middle to start the inning and advanced to second on the throw. She would move to third on a sacrifice fly and eventually scored on a passed ball to cut the lead to 3-1.
 
The Statesmen added one more run in the top of the third and then plated three more in the top of the fourth to make it 7-1.
 
After an out in the bottom of the fourth, Morgan Ritchie (Lincoln) singled to shallow center and went to second on the play. Regan Kirby (Gretna) singled to short with Ritchie moving to third. After an out, Takia Walker (Enterprise, Ala.) singled to drive in Ritchie to make it 7-2.
 
William Penn would score three runs in the top of the fifth. In the bottom of the frame, Peru State would leave the bases loaded without scoring allowing the Statesmen to win by the mercy rule.
 
The Statesmen scored their ten runs on 16 hits and committed three errors. Peru State scored their two runs on two hits and had two errors.
 
Jordynn Jimenez (Delano Beach, Calif.) had two hits to lead Peru State. Walker was credited with the lone RBI.
 
Alana Krieser (Lincoln) started the game and threw 3.2 innings while suffering the loss. Krieser allowed 11 hits, 7 runs – all earned, and struck out 1. Taylor Moya (Keenesburg, Colo.) threw the final 1.1 innings. Moya gave up 5 hits and 3 runs – none earned.

WPU GAME ONE GAME BOOK
 
Second Game Action
 
The Statesmen scored three in the top of the first to go up early.
 
The 'Cats did respond in the bottom of the first. Walker singled to shallow left-center and would go to third when Jimenez doubled to center. Payton Beckmann (Syracuse) singled to shallow center to drive in Walker with Jimenez stopping at third. Tyler Farrell (Brandon, Fla.) singled up the middle to drive in Jimenez which would be the last Bobcat run of the day.
 
WPU would add three runs in the second, one in the third, three in the fourth, and one in the fifth for the 11-2 win.
 
William Penn scored its 11 runs on 15 hits and did not commit any errors. The Bobcats scored their two runs on eight hits and had three errors.
 
Farrell went three for three for the Bobcats and had one RBI. Beckmann was credited with the other RBI.
 
Ritchie started the game and threw three innings. She allowed nine hits, seven runs – two earned, and struck out three. Bailey Bitz (Ravenna) threw the final two innings. Bitz gave up six hits, four earned runs, and struck out one.

WPU GAME TWO GAME BOOK
 
Upcoming Games
 
The Bobcats will now be on the road for four straight double headers – the first three in Heart play and the last non-conference action.
 
On Wednesday, Peru State will be in Des Moines to face Grand View at 3 p.m. The 24^th-ranked Vikings are 29-6 overall and are 19-3 in the Heart North.
 
Then, the 'Cats will be in Dubuque, Iowa, to take on Clarke on Friday at 1 p.m. The Pride are 6-21 overall and are 4-18 in conference play.