(Peru, Neb.) – The Culver Stockton (Mo.) Wildcats topped the Peru State baseball team in the consolation bracket of the Heart of America Conference (Heart) Post-Season Tournament on Friday. The Wildcats defeated the Bobcats 9-6 at the US Baseball Ballpark in Ozark, Mo., in a match-up of the seventh and fifth seeds.
 
With the win, Culver-Stockton improved to 17-33 while the 'Cats dropped to 26-28-1 to finish their season.
 
Game Action
 
Culver-Stockton plated three runs in the top of the first and never trailed after that point.  

 
The Bobcats would strand two runners in the bottom of the first after a pair of singles to start the inning.
 
The Wildcats would add two more runs in the top half of the second to extend their lead to 5-0.
 
In the bottom of the second, Peru State would again put runners in scoring position, but came up empty grounding out to the third with the bases loaded.
 
Both teams were held scoreless in the third inning, but Culver-Stockton would tack on one run to extend their lead to 6-0 in the top half of the fourth inning.
 
Neither team could push any runs across in the fifth or six innings.
 
In the top half of the seventh, the Wildcats added one run to their total on a passed ball to stretch their lead to 7-0.
 
Peru State would come alive in the bottom of the seventh scoring three times making it a 7-3 ball game. Xavier Wright (Calumet City, Ill.) walked, then beat out the fielder's choice play at second on a Jose Chacin (Machiques, Venezuela) ground ball. Hector Torres (Gurabo, P.R.) would single to load the bases.  Luis Landaeta (Porlamar, Venezuela) singled up the middle to score Wright and Chacin.  Adam Cendejas (Chino Hills, CA) would then bring home Torres from third with a sacrifice fly. Peru State again had the opportunity to score more runs after another single and walk, but left two runners on base.
 
The Wildcats would respond in the top of the eighth and score one run to push their lead to 8-3.
 
Peru State scored three more runs in the bottom of the eighth to make it an 8-6 game. Jesus Tavarez (Santo Domingo, P.R.) and Jackson Tingwald (Ralston, Neb.) would produce back-to-back singles to start the inning. Torres would be hit by a pitch to load the bases for the Bobcats. Landaeta cleared the bases with a triple to the right field corner. Unfortunately, that would be all that the Bobcats could produce for the game.
 
Culver-Stockton would score one run in the top of the ninth and hold Peru State scoreless in the bottom half to win the game 9-6.

 
The Wildcats scored nine runs on 13 hits and committed one error. The Bobcats scored their six runs on 12 hits and had no errors.
 
Landaeta and Solis each had three hits to lead the 'Cats. Torres added two hits. Landaeta was credited with all five RBI.
 
Steven Ortiz (Yonkers, N.Y.) started the game for the Bobcats and was credited with the loss. Ortiz threw 5 innings and allowed 7 hits, 6 earned runs, 5 walks, and finished with 2 strikeouts. Daniel Castillo (Barranquillo, Columbia) pitched 3 innings, giving up 4 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, and finished with 3 strikeouts. Joshua Santiago (Carolina, P.R.) and Juan Rodriguez (Bayamon, P.R.) each threw to one batter without recording an out. Devin Adams (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) came on to pitch the final inning and allowed 1 hit, 1 walk, and surrendered 1 run.

CULVER-STOCKTON GAME BOOK
 
Season Finished
 
Peru State's season came to a close as they dropped both of their contests in the Heart Post-Season Tournament for the second season in a row – meaning in the 2019 season since 2020 was lost to COVID-19.