(Peru, Neb.) – The Peru State Bobcats and the Clarke Pride baseball teams split a double header at the Centennial Complex Field in Peru on Sunday.
 
The Pride took the first game 10-8 while Peru State won the second game with a walk-off 3-2.

Clarke, who is receiving votes in the latest NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll, is now 25-9 overall and are 15-3 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) North Division. Presently, the Pride are on top of the North by two full games.
 
Peru State is now 14-18-1 on the season and are 10-6 in the Heart North – which is presently fourth just four games behind Clarke.
 
Game One Action
 
The Pride jumped on the Bobcats in the top of the first to lead 3-0.

 
In the bottom of the first, Luis Landaeta (Porlamar, Venezuela) homered to center filed on the first pitch to cut the deficit to 3-1 after the first out.
 
Neither team would score in the second. Clarke would add a run in the top of the third to make it 4-1 at that point.
 
In the bottom of the third, Landaeta would hit his second home run of the contest on the first pitch he saw to make 4-2.
 
The Pride added one more run in the top of the fourth to lead 5-2.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Manual Caballero singled to right to start the inning. After two strikeouts, Jackson Tingwald (Ralston) hit a two-run blast to right on a 0-1 count to pull the 'Cats within one at 5-4.
 
After a scoreless fifth, Clarke put a five-spot on the board in the top of the sixth to extend their lead to 10-8.
 
The Bobcats would try to rally in the bottom of the seventh, but would fall just short. Jesus Tavarez (Santo Domingo, D.R.) doubled to center with Edwin Quinones (Loiza, P.R.) entering to run for Tavarez. Tingwald singled to left with Quinones moving to third and Tingwald going to second on the play. After an out, Tyler Levy (Nebraska City) entered to run for Tingwald. Gustavo Rivera (Bayamon, P.R.) reached on a Pride error with the base runners both scoring to make it 10-6. After the second out, Landaeta singled thru the hole at shortstop with Rivera moving to second. Adam Cendejas (Chino Hills, Calif.) doubled to center to bring home the base runners putting the score at 10-8. Unfortunately, the next batter grounded out for the Clarke win.
 
Clarke scored their ten runs on 11 hits and committed one error. Peru State scored their eight runs on nine hits and had three miscues.
 
Landaeta and Tingwald each had three hits to lead the 'Cats. Landaeta, Cendejas, Tingwald, and Rivera each were credited with two RBI.
 
Jose Diana (Santa Isabel, P.R.) started the game for the Bobcats and was tagged for the loss. Diana tossed 5.1 innings and gave up 10 hits, 9 runs – 8 earned, and struck out 1. Daniel Castillo (Barranquilla, Columbia) went 1.2 innings. Castillo allowed 1 hit, 1 earned run, and struck out 2.

CLARKE GAME ONE GAME BOOK

 
Game Two Action
 
The second game was more of a pitching duel.
 
Neither team scored through the first three innings. The Pride would score a pair of runs on a home run in the top of the fourth to lead 2-0.
 
Peru State would tie it up in the bottom of the fifth. After an out, Tingwald doubled to right. After a second out, Rivera reached on a walk. Levy would enter to run for Rivera. Hector Torres (Gurabo, P.R.) singled to second with both base runners scoring to knot the game a 2-2.
 
The Pride had a base runner at second in the top of the seventh, but could not capitalize.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Tavarez reached on a walk. After a pitching change, Levy entered to run to for Tavarez and would steal second. Tingwald was intentionally walked. The base runners would then executive a double steal. Wright also reached on a walk to load the bases. After an out, Torres singled to first to drive in Levy for the winning run.
 
The 'Cats scored their three runs on four hits and committed one error. The Pride scored their two runs on two hits and did not have any errors.
 
Torres led the team with two hits and was credited with all three RBI.
 
Steven Ortiz (Yonkers, N.Y.) tossed a complete game for the win. Ortiz gave up just two hits, two earned runs, and struck out seven.

CLARKE GAME TWO GAME BOOK
 
Upcoming Games
 
The two teams will square off again on Monday for another double header beginning at noon.

 
Peru State will then play a non-conference double header against Doane at Werner Park in Papillion beginning at 2 p.m. on Tuesday.
 
This weekend, the 'Cats will host Missouri Valley in a pair of double headers beginning at 1 p.m. each day. The Vikings are currently 11-25 on the season and are 4-14 in conference play. It will be Senior Day for the Bobcats on Saturday.