(Peru, Neb.) – The Peru State baseball team struggled a little offensively over the weekend as they fell to the Friends Falcons in Wichita, Kan. The Bobcats lost to Friends on Friday 5-4 and then lost a pair of games 4-1 and 2-1 on Saturday.
 
It was the opening series for both teams for the 2021 season.
 
Saturday Game One Action
 
Friends plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the second for what would be enough for the game.

 
Peru State was able to score a run in the top of the third. After a pair of outs, Jose Chacin (Machiques, Venezuela) reached on a walk. Tyler Levy (Nebraska City) entered to run for Chacin and went to second with a stolen base. Hector Torres (Gurabo, P.R.) reached with a walk as did Xavier Wright (Calumet City, Ill.) to load the bases. Jackson Tingwald (Ralston) was hit by a pitch to drive in Levy. Unfortunately, the next Bobcat struck out with the Falcons still leading 2-1.
 
The Falcons would add a run in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings to increase their lead to 4-1.
 
The 'Cats did have an opportunity to score in the top of the seventh, but left runners on the corners.

FRIENDS GAME ONE GAME BOOK
 
Friends scored their four runs on eight hits and did not commit any errors. Peru State scored their lone run on one hit and had two errors.
 
Wright was the only Bobcat to get a hit while Tingwald was credited with one RBI.
 
Joseph Vargas (Juan Diaz, P.R.) started on the mound for Peru State and suffered the loss. Vargas tossed 5.2 innings and allowed eight hits, four earned runs, and struck out one. Blake Feeken (Crete) threw one out which was a strikeout.
 
Saturday Game Two Action
 
The second game was a pitcher's duel.

 
Peru State did strike first in the top of the first inning. Torres singled to center to start the game. Wright reached on a walk with Torres moving to second. Tingwald laid down a sacrifice bunt with the base runners advancing. On a ground out by Adam Cendejas (Chino Hills, Calif.), Torres scored and Wright moved to third.
 
Neither team would score until the bottom of the sixth. However, the 'Cats did have scoring opportunities in both of the top of the third and fourth, but could not convert.
 
Friends scored a run in the bottom of the sixth to tie it. After the Bobcats went down in order in the top of the seventh, the Falcons plated one in the bottom of the seventh to get the series sweep.

FRIENDS GAME TWO GAME BOOK
 
The Falcons scored their two runs on seven hits and did not have any errors. The Bobcats scored their one run on five hits and committed two errors.
 
Torres and Tingwald each had two hits while Jose Solis (Los Santos, Panama) had the other. Cendejas was credited with Peru State's lone RBI.
 
Joshua Santiago (Carolina, P.R.) threw a complete game and suffered the loss. Santiago allowed seven hits, two runs – none earned, and struck out six.

 
Upcoming Contests
 
Peru State will take the next week off before heading to Kansas City, Mo., to face Avila in a four-game series on Feb. 6 and 7. The Eagles opened their season this weekend, too, dropping a pair of contests to Southwestern Assemblies of God in Texas. Avila will host Presentation (S.D.) for a three-game series this coming weekend.