Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 (Peru, Neb.)—On Wednesday afternoon the Peru State softball team dropped a pair against William Penn. The Bobcats are now 4-9 and 0-4 in conference play while the Statesmen are 9-7 and 2-0 in conference play.
 
Below is a breakdown of both games…
 
Game 1
 
In the top of the first inning the 'Cats played well defensively as they only walked one batter. The Bobcats in the bottom of the first Ellie Ohlde (Fairbury) started with a leadoff single but unfortunately, they left Ohlde stranded on second.
 
The Statesmen in the second scored on a single after a batter had reached first on an error earlier in the inning as they now led 1-0.  William Penn scored one run on one hit and left one on base. In the home half of the second the 'Cats went three up three down.
 
William Penn continued the hot bats in the third inning as they hit a single after one out. Then a triple would bring the Statesmen runner home as they doubled up the 'Cats.
 
Then a sac fly would score the third run for the Statesmen. William Penn scored two runs on two hits and left no one base. Peru State in the home half of the third went down in order.
 
The Statesmen threatened again in the fourth as they had the bases loaded with three singles. Alana Krieser (Lincoln) came up big for the Bobcats as she struck out two batters in the inning and the 'Cats got out of the bases loaded jam.
 
Ohlde came up big in the bottom of the fourth as she hit a lead off triple. Then Morgan Wilkie (Bakersfield, Calif.) grounded out, but Ohlde came into score as the Bobcats cut the lead to two. Peru State scored one run on one hit and left no one on base.
 
The Statesmen went down in order in the top of the fifth. Mya Mathes (Ankeny, Iowa) hit a two out single to try and get a rally for the 'Cats. Mathes would be left on base as the Bobcats still trailed by two.
 
The Statesmen in the top of the sixth got a runner on first via a walk and then she stole two bases as they were 90 feet away from home. Then a single sent the William Penn runner home. That would be the only run of the inning for the Statesmen as they led 4-1. The 'Cats went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the sixth.
 
William Penn threatened in the seventh inning as they had the bases loaded after an error, a walk and a single. The Statesmen were unable to score thanks to the Bobcat defense. William Penn scored no runs on one hit and left three on base.
 
In the bottom of the seventh Wilkie hit a leadoff double and then Carli Kohout (Cortland) reached on an error as the Bobcats threatened. Three strikeouts unfortunately would end the game. The Statesmen defeated the Bobcats 4-1.
 
Krieser pitched a complete game striking out seven batters, giving up four runs on eight hits. All four were earned.
 
Ohlde led the way in hits as she had two in game one. Wilkie had the lone RBI in game one.
 
Game 2
 
The Statesmen in the first inning of game two came out swinging as they started the game with a leadoff single. Later in the inning they would score on an RBI single.  A Statesmen runner would get to third via a tag and a wild pitch, but she would be left 90 feet away from the plate. The Statesmen scored one run on two hits and left one on base.
 
Ohlde in the bottom of the first drew a leadoff walk, then with two outs Kohout doubled, and Ohlde came into score to tie the game at one. The 'Cats scored one run on one hit and left one on.
 
In the second the offenses slowed up as the Statesmen were only able to get a walk in their half of the inning. Jessye Rowland (Pearcy, Ark.) started the inning with a leadoff single but that was all the 'Cats would get in the home half of the second.
 
The Statesmen in the third hit a three-run home run after two singles as they now took a 4-1 lead. The next at-bat William Penn hit a double as they had another runner in scoring position. 
 
A sac fly later in the inning would score another Statesmen. William Penn scored four runs on four hits and left no one on. The 'Cats went down in order in the third.
 
The Statesmen threatened again in the top of the fourth as they had a runner in scoring position after a walk and a steal. The runner got to third on a wild pitch, but William Penn was unable to bring the base runner home.
 
Kohout led off the fourth with a single but that would be the only offense for the 'Cats in the fourth. William Penn in the top of the fifth hit a lead off double, they would then threaten with runners on second and third after a walk and a fielders' choice.
 
Then a wild pitch would score two Statesmen as they now led 7-1. William Penn scored two runs on one hit and left one on base.
 
The 'Cats in the bottom of the fifth started with a lead off walk by Mathes. Hailey Wessel (Malcolm) came into pinch hit, and she also drew a walk as the 'Cats threatened with runners on first and second. Both runners would advance via a wild pitch as they were now in scoring position.
 
Then Payton Beckmann (Syracuse) came up big with a triple scoring Mathes and Wessel as the score was now 7-3. On the next at-bat Beckmann came into score via a wild pitch. Wilkie was up to bat as she hit a double as the bats stayed hot for the 'Cats. Unfortunately, she would be left on but not before Peru State scored three runs on two hits.
 
In the sixth the Statesmen loaded the bases from a single, an error and a walk, on the next at-bat a single would bring home the runner as the Statesmen led the Bobcats 8-4.
 
That would be the only run for the Statesmen in the inning. They scored one run on two hits and left three on base. In the top of the sixth the 'Cats went down in order.
 
William Penn went three up three down in the top of the seventh. Wessel in the bottom of the seventh started the inning with a leadoff single. Unfortunately, the 'Cats would leave the runner stranded and the Statesmen defeated the Bobcats 8-4.
 
Cheyenne Leach (Wymore) pitched 4.2 innings, striking out two batters giving up seven runs on seven hits and all seven runs were earned. Layla Worthington (Holladay, Utah) pitched 2.1 innings striking out one batter, giving up one run on two hits and the run was earned.
 
Kohout led the way in hits in game two as she had two. Beckmann led the way in RBIs as she had two in game two.
 
Peru State is back on the diamond at home this Saturday as they welcome Culver-Stockton to town. The First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. It is the annual Dog Day for the 'Cats event bring your pup to the park for a free pup cup while they last.