(Peru, Neb.) – The Peru State softball team gained a split with the Clarke Pride in Dubuque, Iowa, on Friday afternoon.

The Bobcats took the first game 7-4 while the Pride came back to capture the second game 2-1.
 
Peru State is now 7-33 overall and 6-24 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) North. Clarke is 7-22 on the season and is 6-19 in conference play.
 
First Game Action
 
Neither team scored in the first two innings although the Bobcats had left the bases loaded in the top of the first.

 
In the top of the third, after an out, Payton Beckmann (Syracuse) singled to right field. Tyler Farrell (Brandon, Fla.) singled to center field with Beckmann stopping at second. Ally Hazen (North Platte) stepped to the plate and hit a three-run home run to put Peru State up 3-0.
 
The Pride tied the score in the bottom of the third at 3-3 each.
 
Peru State would regain the lead in the top of the fourth. After two outs, Takia Walker (Enterprise, Ala.) doubled to left field. Jordynn Jimenez (Delano Beach, Calif.) doubled to right field to score Walker. Beckmann walked and then Farrell doubled to drive in Jimenez to make it 5-3.
 
Clarke would score one in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead to 5-4.
 
In the top of the fifth, after two outs, Morgan Ritchie (Lincoln) reached on an error. Alena Montoya (Lakewood, Colo.) doubled to center field with Ritchie advanced to third. Ritchie would score on the play as there was another error. That made the score 6-4.
 
The Bobcats would add an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Regan Kirby (Gretna) singled to left field and then went to second when Ritchie was put out on a fielder's choice. On a second ground out, Kirby went to third. Walker followed with a single to score Kirby for the final run of the first game.
 
Peru State scored their seven runs on 11 hits and committed four errors. Clarke scored their four runs on six hits and had three miscues.
 
Farrell had three hits to lead the team while Walker and Jimenez each contributed two hits. Hazen led the team with three RBI while Walker, Jimenez, and Farrell each had one RBI.

 
Alana Krieser (Lincoln) threw a complete game and earned the win. Krieser threw seven innings and allowed six hits and four runs – three earned.

CLARKE GM ONE BOX SCORE
 
Second Game Action
 
Clarke scored one in the bottom of the first and held that lead until the top of the fifth.
 
Kirby led off the fifth with a single to left field. On a ground out, Kirby went to second. On a fly out, Kirby went to third. Walker doubled to left field to tie the score at 1-1.
 
The Pride would come back to win the game in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Clarke scored their two runs on 11 hits and committed one error. Peru State scored its lone run on four hits and did not commit any errors.
 
Walker had two hits while Kirby and Ritchie each had one hit. Walker had the lone RBI.
 
Ritchie threw the complete game and suffered the loss. She allowed 11 hits, two earned runs, and struck out seven.

CLARKE GM TWO BOX SCORE
 
Upcoming Contests
 
The Bobcats are still in Iowa on Saturday and will face Mount Mercy in Cedar Rapids in a double header beginning at 1 p.m. The Mustangs are 22-18 overall and are 13-13 in conference play. Mount Mercy has lost seven Heart games in a row.
 
Peru State will be on the road on Wednesday for a pair of non-conference games with Morningside in Sioux City, Iowa. The Mustangs are 21-8 on the year.