(Peru, Neb.) – The Bobcat baseball team won the opener on Saturday and then took the rubber match on Sunday to get its first series win of the 2020 season.
 
Peru State defeated Wayland Baptist (WBU) 8-7 in Saturday's first seven-inning game and then fell 7-1 to the Pioneers in the second game. Then, on Sunday, the 'Cats took the rubber match 9-8 in a nine-inning contest. The three-game series was played in Plainview, Texas.
 
With the two wins, the Bobcats improved to 3-5 on the season. Wayland Baptist fell to 11-4.
 
Saturday Game One
 
After an out in the top of the first, Hector Torres (Gurabo, Puerto Rico) walked. Jesus Tavarez (Santo Domingo, D.R.) singled down the right field line to move Torres to third. On a ground out by Julian Fernandez (Middle Village, N.Y.), Torres scored to make it 1-0 Peru State.

 
The Pioneers would take the lead in the bottom of the inning with two runs and then added a run in the bottom of the third to lead 3-1.
 
Peru State would get back on the board in the top of the sixth. Tavarez doubled to start the inning and came home when Fernandez singled. That made the score 3-2.
 
Wayland Baptist plated one in the bottom of the sixth to extend their lead to 4-2.
 
In the top of the seventh, the Bobcats exploded for six runs and did so with two outs to start the inning. Torres triple and came home on a single by Tavarez. Tavarez would move to second with on an error. Fernandez homered to bring home Tavarez and the Bobcats led 5-4 at that point. Jackson Tingwald (Ralston) singled as did Manual Cabellero (Dolega, Panama) with Tingwald moving to third. Joycer Raymondi (Berwyn, Ill.) doubled to drive in Tingwald with Caballero stopping at third. On a balk, Caballero scored and Raymondi went to third. Luis Landaeta (Porlamar, Venezuela) singled to bring home Raymondi to put the Bobcats up 8-4 at that point.
 
WBU did score three in the bottom of the inning, but left the bases loaded as Peru State won 8-7.
 
Peru State scored its eight runs on 11 hits and did not commit any errors. Wayland Baptist scored their seven runs on 11 hits and had three errors.
 
Tavarez went three for four with one RBI while Fernandez was two for three with four RBI to lead the Bobcats.
 
Daniel Castillo (Burrowsville, Columbia) started the game for the Bobcats. Castillo threw six innings allowing nine hits, four earned runs, and struck out six to earn the win. Caballero came in to relieve Castillo and threw the final inning. He allowed four hits, three earned runs and struck out two.

WAYLAND BAPTIST BOX SCORE GM ONE
 
Saturday Game Two

 
The Pioneers scored one in the first, third, and fifth while adding two in the fourth and sixth to lead 7-0 heading into the top of the seventh.
 
The Bobcats would plate their lone run in the top of the seventh. Tavarez singled and went to second when Fernandez singled. Tingwald would single to drive in Tavarez for the only run of the game for Peru State.
 
Wayland Baptist scored their seven runs on nine hits and did not commit any errors. The 'Cats scored their lone run on four hits and had one error.
 
Tavarez, Fernandez, Tingwald, and Caballero each had one hit with Tingwald getting the lone RBI.
 
Joshua Santiago (Carolina, Puerto Rico) threw a complete game and suffered the loss. Santiago gave up nine hits, seven runs – six earned, and struck out one.

WAYLAND BAPTIST BOX SCORE GM TWO
 
Sunday Game Action
 
Peru State got on the board first in the top of the first inning. After an out, Torres doubled down the left field line. On a ground out, Torres advanced to third. Fernandez double to left field to bring home Torres. On a full count, Tingwald hit a home run to right center to put the 'Cats up 3-0.
 
WBU scored four in the bottom of the frame to take a 4-3 lead. The Pioneers would add one in the bottom of the third to extend their lead to 5-3.
 
The Bobcats would regain the lead in the top of the fourth. Tingwald led off with a single and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Caballero. After the second out, Austin Greenfield (Omaha) struck out, but went to first on a wild pitch with Tingwald advancing to third. Jose Chacin (Machiques, Venezuela) singled through the right side to bring home Tingwald with Greenfield moving to third. Darrien Liriano (Orlando, Fla.) singled to center field to drive in Greenfield to tie the score. The base runners advanced on a throwing error on the play. Torres singled to drive in Chacin to make the score 6-5 at that point.
 
Wayland Baptist would tie the score in the bottom of the fifth with one run.
 
Later, in the top of the eighth, Peru State would get back on the board. Tingwald started the inning with a home run. After an out, Raymondi tripled to right field and would come home on a Greenfield single to put the Bobcats up 8-6.
 
The Pioneers would score twice in the bottom of the inning to knot the game at 8.
 
In the top of the ninth, Liriano singled to center field to start the inning. Torres laid down a sac bunt to move Liriano to second. On a ground out, Liriano would move to third and later would score on a wild pitch for what would prove to be the winning run.
 
Peru State would get the first two outs on a double play in the bottom of the ninth and then had a fly out to end the game for the win.

 
The 'Cats scored their nine runs on 13 hits and had one error. The Pioneers scored their eight runs on six hits and committed two errors.
 
Torres went four for four with one RBI while Tingwald was three for five with three RBI which included two home runs. Liriano finished the game with two hits and one RBI.
 
Keniel Cruz (Cayey, Puerto Rico) started the game on the mound for Peru State. Cruz tossed 3.1 innings allowing 3 hits, 5 earned runs, and struck out 2. Luis Pacheco (Miami, Fla.) threw 2.2 innings allowing 1 hit, 1 earned run, and struck out 1. Blake Feeken (Crete) went 1.2 innings while giving up 1 hit, 2 earned runs, and struck out one. Caballero tossed the final 1.1 innings and earned the win. He allowed just 1 hit and struck out 1.

WAYLAND BAPTIST BOX SCORE SUNDAY

Upcoming Contests
 
The Bobcats will head south again this next weekend, but will not be going as far south. They will be in Bartlesville, Okla., to take on Oklahoma Wesleyan on Friday and Saturday in a pair of double headers beginning at 1 p.m. each day. The Eagles have started the season a 7-7 mark.
 
The following weekend on Leap Day, Mother Nature permitting, the 'Cats will host their first Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) games of the season when Missouri Valley visits for a double header beginning at 1 p.m.