(Peru, Neb.) – The Peru State baseball team dropped its season opener 5-4 to the Friends Falcons in Wichita, Kan., Friday afternoon in a nine-inning contest.
 
Game Highlights
 
Neither team scored through the first two innings. After Peru State went scoreless in the top of the third, the Falcons pushed across a run in the bottom of the frame to lead 1-0.
 
The Bobcats got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth. After two outs, Adam Cendejas (Chino Hills, Calif.) was hit by a pitch. Jose Solis (Los Santos, Panama) stepped to the plate and hit a two-run home run over the right field fence on a 2-2 count to put the 'Cats up 2-1.

 
That score would stand until the Falcons regained the lead by scoring two in the bottom of the fifth to go up 3-2 after five complete innings.
 
Peru State would leaving the bases loaded in the top of the sixth. Friends would add one to their lead in the bottom of the inning to go up 4-2 at that point.
 
Friends added another run in the bottom of the seventh to lead 5-2.
 
In the top of the eighth, after a pitching change for Friends, Cendejas singled to center. After a double play, Jesus Tavarez (Santo Domingo, D.R.) reached on a walk. Then Manual Caballero (Dolega, Panama) hit a two-run home run on the first pitch over the center field fence to pull the Bobcats within one at 5-4.
 
The 'Cats could not muster anything else and ended up falling to the Falcons.

FRIENDS GAME BOOK
 
Game Statistics
 
Friends scored their five runs on six hits and did not commit any errors. Peru State scored their four runs on eight hits and had three miscues.
 
Peru Individual Statistics
 
Tavarez led the Bobcats in hitting going two for three. Solis and Caballero each had one hit and two RBI.

 
Jose Diana (Santa Isabel, P.R.) started on the mound for the Bobcats and suffered the loss. Diana threw 4.2 innings allowing 2 hits, 3 runs – 1 earned, and struck out 6. Daniel Castillo (Barranquilla, Columbia) tossed the final 3.1 innings for the 'Cats. Castillo allowed 4 hits, 2 earned runs, and struck out 5.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
The Bobcats and Falcons were going to meet for a double header on Saturday in Wichita.
 
Peru State will be off for two weeks before heading to Kansas City, Mo., to face Avila in a four-game series on February 6 and 7.