(Peru, Neb.) – In the first game of the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) regular-season finale, the Peru State baseball team topped the visiting Mount Mercy (Iowa) Mustangs 10-4.
 
The Heart changed its regular-season format for this season to include match-ups with the various seeds. Peru State was third after last week in the Heart North while Mount Mercy was fourth which created the weekend's match-up.
 
With the win, Peru State improved to 25-26-1 overall and 19-10 in the Heart North. The Mustangs fell to 29-16 on the year and 17-12 in the North.

 
Friday Game Action
 
Mount Mercy would score first by plating one in the top of the second.
 
Peru State would eventually tie it in the bottom of the third. Xavier Wright (Calumet City, Ill.) singled to start the inning and went to second on a sac bunt by Jose Chacin (Machiques, Venezuela). Hector Torres (Gurabo, P.R.) would move Wright to third. Luis Landaeta (Porlamar, Venezuela) drove Wright home with a single thru the hole at shortstop.
 
The Bobcats would take the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Manuel Caballero (Dolega, Panama) singled to left and would go to second on a ground out. Jesus Tavarez (Santo Domingo, D.R.) would reach on a fielder's choice with Caballero being tagged out. Jackson Tingwald (Ralston) doubled to deep left-center to put the 'Cats up 2-1 at that point.
 
The Mustangs would regain the lead in the top of the fifth as they plated two runs to go up 3-2.
 
But, that lead was short-lived as the Bobcats would plate five runs in the bottom of the frame. Chacin doubled to center. Tyler Levy (Nebraska City) would enter to run for Chacin. Levy would go to third with a stolen base and then would score on a wild throw to tie the game at 3-3. After an out, Landaeta homed over the center field fence on a 0-0 count. Adam Cendejas (Chino Hills, Calif.) singled thru the hole at shortstop and then Caballero hit a home run over the right field fence on a 0-0 count to put Peru State up 6-3. Jose Solis (Los Santos, Panama) followed with a solo home run to give the 'Cats another run as they led 7-3 after five complete innings.
 
Peru State would add some insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh. Cendejas homered over the center field fence on a 0-2 count. After a pitching change and an out, Solis reached on a walk and Levy entered to run for him. Levy went to second with a stolen base. Tavarez reached as he was hit by a pitch. On a wild pitch, the base runners advanced. Tingwald doubled to left with both base runners scoring making it 10-3 at the end of seven.

 
Mount Mercy would add one in the top of the ninth, but it was not enough as Peru State prevailed 10-4.
 
The 'Cats scored their ten runs on 12 hits and committed one error. The Mustangs scored their four runs on seven hits and had one error.
 
Cendejas went three for four to lead Peru State while Landaeta, Caballero, and Tingwald each had two hits. Tingwald was credited with three RBI while Landaeta and Caballero each added two.
 
Steven Ortiz (Yonkers, N.Y.) through a complete game for the win. Ortiz allowed seven hits, four earned runs, and struck out six.

MOUNT MERCY GAME BOOK
 
Upcoming Games
 
The two teams are meeting on Saturday with the first game beginning at noon. With a Peru State win, the Bobcats would win the series. If Mount Mercy takes the first game, it would force a second game on Saturday which would take place approximately 30 minutes following the first game.
 
The winner of the series will receive an automatic berth in to the Heart Post-Season Tournament which will begin next Thursday in Ozarks, Mo. The loser will have to wait to see if they make it which will be based on how the Culver-Stockton (Mo.)/William Penn (Iowa) series goes.