(Peru, Neb)—The Peru State Softball team participated in the Friends Tournament in Wichita, Kansas over the weekend. Unfortunately, the Bobcats went 1-3 in the Tournament as they fell to 4-5 on the season.
 
Below is a game-by-game breakdown of a how each game went for the 'Cats over the weekend.
 
Game 1 vs. York College Panthers
 
In the first inning York College started the game off with a lead off single and then the runner stole second to get the Panthers in scoring position. The runner then stole third and scored on a throwing error.
 
Later in the inning after a walk, a sac fly would score another Panther runner making the score 2-0 in the top of the first. York would score two runs on one hit, one error and left one on base.
 
The bats started hot for the 'Cats as Ellie Ohlde (Fairbury) hit a lead off single to start the home half. Then Morgan Wilkie (Bakersfield, Calif.) singled scoring Ohlde as the 'Cats would cut the lead to one. Peru State scored one run on two hits and left no one on base.
 
After a dormant second inning, the Panthers got a one out double and then the runner stole third and then would score via a throwing error. York got a two out home run as they would score two runs on two hits one error and left one on base. The Panthers were now up 4-1.
 
The Bobcats stayed cold in the bottom of the third as they went three up three down. Fourth inning was quiet for both teams as the Panthers ran into a double play to end the half inning.
 
Payton Beckmann (Syracuse) drew a leadoff walk and then stole second, but the Bobcats would strand her on base as the fourth inning ended. In the fifth both teams got one on base and into scoring position with steals but again were unable to do anything offensively.
 
In the top half of the sixth inning York led off with a single. Then after three more singles the Panthers plated two more runs as they now led 6-1. Later in the inning the Panthers would score again via an error. The Bobcats did get out of a bases loaded jam towards the end of the half inning. The Panthers scored four runs on five hits one error and left three on base.
 
There were two outs in the bottom of the sixth and then Wilkie hit a home run to make the score 8-2 and the 'Cats had some momentum going into the final inning.
 
York was able to get two hits from two singles but was unable to capitalize as they left two runners on base. In the home half of the seventh Jerica German (Cortland) hit a one out home run to make the score 8-3.
 
Then Wessel doubled and Page singled as the 'Cats threatened with runners on the corners. Mya Mathes (Ankeny, Iowa) walked to load the bases. Ohlde then singled scoring Page and Wessel as the score was now 8-5.

Ohlde advanced to second on the throw as the 'Cats threatened with runners on second and third.

Then Wilkie was hit by pitch and she then advanced to second on a wild pitch and Mathes would come into score as the score was now 8-6.
 
Kohout was now at the plate and she would single as Ohlde and Wilkie came into score to tie the game at eight. Cassie Pearson (Aurora, Colo.) came into the game to pinch run for Kohout. Pearson then stole second to get a runner in scoring position.
 
Jessye Rowland (Pearcy, Ark.) hit a double and walked it off for the 'Cats as Pearson came in and plated the winning run 9-8.
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Cheyenne Leach (Wymore) pitched all seven innings, striking out five batters, giving up eight runs on 12 hits but only six were earned.
 
Ohlde, Wessel and Wilkie tied for hits with two each in game one. Kohout, Ohlde and Wilkie tied for RBIs as they had two each.
 
Game 2 at Friends University Falcons
 
In game two of the Friends tournament Peru State faced off with host school Friends. In the first inning after two quick outs, Wilkie drew a walk to start a two-out rally. Then Kohout drew a walk as there were now runners on the corners for the 'Cats.
 
Rowland then doubled to center field as both Wilkie and Kohout would come home to score. The Bobcats led 2-0 early as they had two runs on two hits and left one on base. The Falcons were only able to get a base runner on via an error in the home half of the inning.
 
In the second inning Carlye Rothschild (Eros, La.) singled with one out in the inning, unfortunately, the 'Cats were unable to get any runs across the board in the second. The Falcons bats came alive in the second as they led the inning off with a single.
 
Later in the inning Friends was threatening as they had runners on second and third via a couple of singles. Then a single would tie the game for the Falcons as two runs came home. Friends scored two runs on three hits and left one on base in the second.
 
Peru State's offense remained stagnant in the third inning as they were only able to get a base runner on via a walk. In the bottom half of the third Friends drew two walks to start the inning as they were already threatening with runners on first and second.
 
Then a single sent two runners home and the Falcons had a 4-2 lead on the Bobcats. Two more singles for the Falcons left the bases loaded, the Falcons would score one more run via an error in the inning.
 
The 'Cats were still struggling offensively as they again only got one hit in the inning before they had to go right back on defense. The hot bats continued for the Falcons in the home half of the fourth as they led off with a double.

Then a single left runners on the corners for Friends. The runner then stole second as Friends was threatening again with runners in scoring position. Then a single scored another Falcon as they now led 6-2 and had runners on the corners once again. Then another stolen base would have Falcons in scoring position.
 
The bases were juiced after Friends drew a walk and then they scored another run via a hit by pitch. The next Friends batter singled, and two more runs scored as the score was now 9-2. The Falcons would get one more in the inning via a single as they scored five runs on five hits and left two on base.
 
The Bobcats offense woke up in the fifth as it started with a one out single from Wilkie. Then Kohout reached on an error as the 'Cats had runners on first and second.
 
German with two outs doubled to left field as Wilkie would come in to score making it 10-3. Then Wessel walked as the 'Cats would have the bases loaded. Rothschild was hit by a pitch and Kohout would come home to make the score 10-4. The Bobcats scored two runs on two hits one error and left three on base.
 
In the bottom of the fifth Friends led off with a single and then a double scored another Falcon making the score 11-4 Friends. The Falcons scored one run on two hits and left one runner on base.
 
In the sixth the 'Cats did not do much offensively as Wilkie recorded a two out single but that was it in the half inning. Friends did the same in the bottom half. In the final inning the 'Cats went 1-2-3 and would fall to the Falcons 11-4.
 
Alana Krieser (Lincoln) pitched four innings striking out two batters, giving up ten runs on 11 hits and nine of them were earned. Layla Worthington (Holladay, Utah) pitched two innings striking out two batters giving up one run on three hits and the one run was earned.
 
Rothschild and Wilkie were tied for the lead in hits as both had two in game two. Rowland led the way in RBIs with two.
 
Game 3 at Briar Cliff University Chargers

The third game of the Friends tournament was an early Saturday morning game against the Briar Cliff Chargers.
 
The bats were hot early for the 'Cats as Ohlde started the first inning with a lead off single. Then Wilkie singled and both would steal as the Bobcats threatened with runners in scoring position.
 
Then Kohout singled scoring Ohlde as the 'Cats would get on the board first. The 'Cats would have the bases loaded but were unable to capitalize as Wilkie was thrown out at home and then a pop up and a strike out would end the inning. The Bobcats scored one run on three hits and left three on base.
 
In the home half of the first the Chargers hit a leadoff single, but then the 'Cats made a play as they would catch the base runner trying to steal second. The Chargers then hit a one out single and then a two out double scored the runner at first tying the game at one. The Chargers scored one run on three hits and left two on base.

In the second inning both teams went three up three down. In the top of the third Wilkie hit a leadoff single but unfortunately a double play and a strikeout would end the inning. In the bottom half of the third inning Briar Cliff hit a one out single but then ramped up the offense with two down.
 
Another single would have the Chargers threatening with runners on first and second. Then the Chargers would score via an error as they would take the 2-1 lead.
 
A double then scored two more as the Chargers extended their lead. Briar Cliff hit another double scoring another baserunner as they now lead 5-1. Briar Cliff scored four runs on six hits one error and left two on base.
 
The Bobcats or Chargers did not do much offensively in the fourth inning as both teams were only able to get a single in the inning. It would be more of the same for the 'Cats in the top half of the fifth.
 
In the home half of the fifth the Chargers led off with a single, then a couple of more singles had the bases loaded for the Chargers. A fourth single in the inning would have the Chargers score another run as they led 6-1.
 
The bases were still juiced for the Chargers but the 'Cats made a play at the plate and then a line out would end the inning. Briar Cliff scored one run on five hits and left three on base.
 
The 'Cats started the sixth inning with a double by Rowland into centerfield. Then a German double would score Rowland as Peru State would now have two on the board. Then Page hit a two-run home run her first career home run as a Bobcat. The Bobcats would cut the lead to two. Peru State scored three runs on four hits and left no one on base.
 
Briar Cliff went down in order in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Bobcats could not get a rally going offensively in the seventh as the only player to reach base was Wilkie via a walk.
Peru State fell to Briar Cliff 6-4 in the third game of the Friends Tournament.
 
Leach pitched four innings striking out one batter giving up five runs on 11 hits and four of the runs were earned. Worthington pitched two innings giving up one run on four hits and the one run was earned.
 
Wilkie led the way in hits in game three as she had three. Page led the way in RBIs as she had two for the 'Cats.

Game 4 vs. Concordia University Bulldogs
 
The final game of the Friends Tournament was against another Nebraska foe starting around high noon.
 
Concordia started the first inning with a lead off walk and then it looked as if the Bobcats would get out of the inning relatively smoothly with a strikeout and catching a base runner stealing.

The Bulldogs had other ideas in mind, as two singles and a walk loaded the bases for Concordia. Then a double would score two runs for the Bulldogs as they would take an early 2-0 lead.
 
Then an error would score another Bulldog as they now lead 3-0. Concordia scored three runs on three hits an error and left two on base.
 
The Bobcat offense struggled in the first inning as they went down in order. Concordia's bats stayed hot in the second inning as they had a leadoff single and then the runner advanced two bases from a stolen bag and a wild pitch.
 
Then the runner would score via another wild pitch. After a two out walk Concordia hit a two-run home run making the score 6-0 Bulldogs. Concordia scored three runs on two hits and left no one on base.
 
The 'Cats offense got going in the second inning as Kohout started with a leadoff single. Then a German one out single left runners on the corners for the Bobcats. Kohout would then score on an error as the 'Cats would get on the board.
 
Later in the inning Wessel singled to right scoring German and the Bobcats had the cut the lead down to four runs 6-2. Peru State scored two runs on four hits an error and two left on base.
 
In the third Concordia's bats were still hot as they had three singles in the inning but were unable to capitalize as they had no runs on three hits and left two runners on. The 'Cats went three up three down in the home half of the third.
 
The Bulldogs would again get three singles in the fourth but the 'Cats made plays defensively as the Bulldogs would again record no runs on three hits and leave one on base. Unfortunately, the Bobcats were only able to get a two out single in the bottom half and the score was still 6-2.
 
Concordia in the top of fifth started with two singles and then a double steal took place as the Bulldogs would have runners in scoring position. A third single in the inning would score one Bulldog.
 
Then after another steal the Bulldogs threatened to score again, they would score on a productive ground out as the score was now 8-2. Concordia scored two runs on three hits and left one on base. The Bobcats again went down in order.
 
The Bulldogs in the top of the sixth would then threaten again after a walk and a single to have runners on first and second. Later in the inning another productive ground out scored a Bulldog runner. Then a double and a single by Concordia batters sent two more runners home as the score was now 11-2.
 
A single for the Bulldogs would load the bases but the 'Cats would not give up anymore runs. Concordia scored three runs on four hits and left two on base.
 
In the bottom of the sixth Wilkie reached on an error to start the inning for the 'Cats. Kohout would single but Wilkie was thrown out at second. Later in the inning German doubled scoring Kohout as the score was now 11-3. The Bobcats would score one run on two hits an error and left one on base.
 
The Bobcats would fall the Bulldogs and would go 1-3 in the Friends Tournament falling to 4-5 on the young season.
 
Krieser pitched six innings striking out four batters, giving up 11 runs on 18 hits and ten of the runs were earned.
 
Kohout and German led the way in hits with two each, there was a three-way tie for RBIs as German, Rothschild and Wessel each had one.
 
Peru State is back in action this Wednesday in Leavenworth, Kansas for a doubleheader against the University of St. Mary. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.