(Peru, Neb.) – For the first time four years, the Peru State softball team swept its Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) opening double header on Friday.
 
The Bobcats topped Mount Mercy (Iowa) 8-0 in six innings and then won the second game 5-4. Ironically, it was the Mustangs that Peru State had swept back in 2017 to begin conference play.
 
With the pair of wins, Peru State improved to 8-9 overall and 2-0 in the Heart North. Mount Mercy fell to 7-3 on the season and 0-2 in conference action.
 
First Game Action
 
Neither team scored through the first two innings although Peru State was able to work out of a jam in the top of the second.

 
After holding the Mustangs scoreless in the top of third, the Bobcats bats got going in the bottom of the frame after the first two batters had struck out swinging. Takia Walker (Enterprise, Ala.) started things off with a single to second. On a wild pitch, Walker advanced to second. Alyiah Franco (Syracuse, Utah) singled to third to drive in Walker for the first run of the game. Franco would move to second on the throw. Morgan Wilke (Bakersfield, Calif.) reached on a fielder's choice with Franco moving to third. Tyler Farrell (Brandon, Fla.) doubled to right to drive in Franco while Wilke moved to third. Devyn Butorac (Westville, Fla.) singled to left to drive in Farrell and advanced on the throw to second. Jerica German (Cortland) singled to second to bring home Butorac and German would advance to second on the throw. Alaina Lacy (Lincoln) doubled to right to bring home German for the sixth run of the inning.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, the 'Cats added a run as Farrell homered to center to make it 7-0.
 
Then, in the bottom of the sixth, after two outs, Walker singled to center. Franco doubled to center to drive in Franco for the winning run of the game.
 
Peru State scored its eight runs on ten hits and did not commit any errors. Mount Mercy had two hits in the contest.
 
Franco went three for four and drove in two to lead Peru State. Walker and Farrell each had two hits with Farrell also having two RBI.
 
Alana Krieser (Lincoln) tossed the complete game for the win. Krieser allowed just two hits and struck out eight – a career high. This was also just the second shut-out tossed by Krieser in her career.

MOUNT MERCY GAME ONE GAME BOOK
 
Second Game Action
 
Neither team scored in the first two innings, but the Mustangs left two on base in each of the first two innings.

 
Mount Mercy did strike first in the second game by scoring four runs in the top of the third.
 
In the bottom of the third, Peru State managed to score three runs to cut the deficit to one. Lacy started the frame with a walk. After an out, Lacy stole second. Walker reached on a walk and then Franco singled to right to drive in Lacy with Walker moving to third. Wilke singled to center to drive in Walker and Franco to make the score 4-3.
 
Peru State would tie it in the bottom of the fourth. After an out, German singled to center. After the second out, Carlye Rothschild (Eros, La.) doubled to left to drive in German to tie the score at 4-4.
 
After the Bobcats got out of a little jam in the top of the fifth, they scored the go ahead run in the bottom of the inning. After two outs, Wilke homered over the center field fences on a 1-0 count to make it 5-4 which was the final run of the game.
 
The 'Cats scored their five runs on six hits and committed one error. The Mustangs scored their four runs on seven hits and did not commit any errors.
 
Wilke and German each had two hits to lead the Bobcats. Wilke was credited with three RBI while Franco and Rothschild each had one RBI.
 
Layla Worthington (Holladay, Utah) started on the mound for Peru State. Worthington went 2.1 innings and allowed 6 hits, 4 runs – 3 earned, and struck out 1. Cheyenne Leach (Wymore) tossed the final 4.2 innings and earned the win. Leach gave up just 1 hit and struck out 1.

MOUNT MERCY GAME TWO GAME BOOK
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will host Clarke (Iowa) on Saturday in a double header beginning at 11 a.m. The Pride are 5-7 on the season and are 1-1 in the Heart North after splitting their conference opener with Graceland (Iowa) on Friday.
 
On St. Patrick's Day, the Bobcats will be in Oskaloosa, Iowa, to face William Penn in a double header beginning at 4 p.m. The Statesmen are 6-6 to start the season and will play their first conference games on Saturday.