(Peru, Neb.) – It was not the outcome hoped for the Peru State softball team on Tuesday as they hosted the Graceland (Iowa) Yellowjackets.
 
The 'Jackets started off with a 16-5 win in five innings and then took the second game of the double header 7-1 to gain the sweep over the Bobcats.
 
With the wins, Graceland improved to 10-11 overall and 3-7 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). Peru State fell to 3-19 on the year and 2-12 in conference play. The Yellowjackets moved ahead of the Bobcats into fifth in the Heart North with the double header sweep.
 
Game One Action
 
Both teams got on the board early with the Yellowjackets scoring more runs. Graceland scored four in the top of the first inning before Peru State came to the plate.
 
Takia Walker (Enterprise, Ala.) singled thru the hole at shortstop and would go to second on a stolen base. Jordynn Jimenez (Delano, Calif.) singled to third with Walker advancing to third. Jimenez would move to second on the play. Tyler Farrell (Brandon, Fla.) would ground out to drive in Walker with Jimenez moving to third. Ally Hazen (North Platte) singled thru the hole at shortstop with Jimenez scoring. Unfortunately, the 'Cats would leave two stranded and trailed 4-2.

 
Graceland would plate four more runs in the top of the second to go up 8-2 at that point.
 
Regan Kirby (Gretna) would lead off the bottom of the second with a triple. Two ground outs were followed by a single by Jimenez which drove in Kirby. Farrell doubled to deep left to score Jimenez to put the score at 8-4 after two innings.
 
After a scoreless third, the Yellowjackets added three more runs in the top of the fourth to lead 11-4.
 
Peru State would get one run back in the bottom of the inning. After an out, Jimenez was hit by a pitch. Farrell would move Jimenez to second with a single. Hazen singled to pitcher's mound with the other base runners moving up a base due to a fielder's obstruction. On a ground out, Jimenez would score to cut the deficit to 11-5.
 
The Yellowjackets would add an additional five runs in the top of the fifth in route to a mercy rule ending of the game.
 
Graceland scored their 16 runs on 15 hits and did not commit any errors. Peru State scored their five runs on 12 hits and committed two errors.
 
Jimenez, Farrell, Hazen, and Payton Beckmann (Syracuse) each had two hits. Farrell was credited with two RBI while Jimenez, Hazen, and Alyiah Franco (Syracuse, Utah) each had one RBI.
 
Alana Krieser (Lincoln) was on the mound to start the game for the Bobcats and suffered the loss. Krieser allowed eight hits, eight earned runs, and struck out one. Bailey Bitz (Ravenna) threw one inning. Bitz did not give up any hits, but allowed two earned runs. Taylor Moya (Keenesburg, Colo.) tossed the final two innings. Moya allowed seven hits and six earned runs.

GRACELAND GAME ONE ACTION
 
Game Two Action
 
With the exception of one half inning, the second game was much more of a defensive tussle.

Graceland would score one in the first and one in the second to lead 2-0.

 
In the bottom of the second, after an out, Beckmann reached base on an error. Morgan Ritchie (Lincoln) singled to first with Beckmann advancing to second. Kirby followed with a single to shallow left to load the bases. On a sac fly by Shelbi Audsley (Prescott Valley, Ariz.), Beckmann would score what would be the lone Peru State run of the game.
 
The Yellowjackets would attack for five runs in the top of the fourth on their way to the 7-1 win.
 
Graceland would score their seven runs on 11 hits and committed two errors. The 'Cats scored their lone run on six hits and had three errors.
 
Ritchie and Kirby each had two hits to lead the team while Audsley was credited with the RBI.
 
Ritchie was on the hill for the Bobcats and was tagged for the loss. She threw four innings allowing nine hits, seven earned runs, and struck out two. Krieser tossed two innings and allowed just one hit. Moya threw the final inning and allowed one hit and struck out one.

GRACELAND GAME TWO ACTION
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will play a pair of double headers on Friday and Saturday. On Friday, the Bobcats will host MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) with the contests starting at 3 p.m. The Pioneers are 5-9 on the season and are 3-5 in Heart play.
 
Sunday's opponent will be Evangel (Mo.) which is a rescheduled double header. The Crusaders are presently 12-10 overall and are 3-7 in conference play. They will play a pair of double headers before heading to Peru State.