(Peru, Neb.)—On Sunday, April 24, the Peru State softball team was swept by Mount Mercy. The Bobcats lost the first game 4-1 and the second game 10-4. The Bobcats are now 12-30 on the season and 7-24 in Heart conference play while the Mustangs are 29-14 and 22-6 in conference play.
Below is a breakdown of how each game went…
Game 1
The Mustangs hit a leadoff single in the top of the first, but the Bobcat defense held serve as the Mustangs left the runner stranded. Mount Mercy had no runs on one hit and left one on.
In the bottom of the first inning with one down,
Payton Beckmann (Syracuse) hit a triple as the base runner was now only 60-feet away from the plate.
Morgan Wilke (Bakersfield, Calif.) then hit a sac fly to right field as Beckmann came into score the first run of the game. Peru State scored one run on one hit and left no one on.
Mount Mercy hit a double with one down but was unable to score the runner in scoring position. The Mustangs had no runs on one hit and left one on base in the second.
Jerica German (Cortland) drew a leadoff walk in the home half of the second. Then
Alaina Lacy (Lincoln) singled as the 'Cats threatened with runners on first and second. Two strikeouts ended a promising inning for the Bobcats. Peru State had no runs on one hit and left two on base.
Mount Mercy hit a one out single in the top of the third but that was the only offense in the third inning for the Mustangs. Wilke singled with two down in the bottom of the third but a line out to second ended the third inning.
The Mustangs reached first on an error with one down in the fourth, then with two down a single had Mount Mercy threatening with runners on first and second. The threat would subside as a ground out ended the half inning. The Mustangs had no runs on one hit, an error and left two on base.
Lacy drew a two out walk in the bottom of the fourth, but it was a quiet half inning for the 'Cats. Mount Mercy singled with one down in the fifth but then a spectacular double play by the pitcher
Alana Krieser (Lincoln) ended the inning.
Ellie Ohlde (Fairbury), with one down in the bottom of the fifth singled, but that was the only offense for Peru State in the fifth. The Bobcats had no runs on one hit and left one on.
Mount Mercy with two down in the inning hit a single, then the next batter reached on an error and the runner from first scored and tied the game. The Mustangs scored one run on one hit, an error and left one on.
Autumn Dixon (Stilwell, Kan.) tried to get a two out rally in the bottom of the sixth with a single. A strike out ended the inning for the 'Cats.
A single and a walk with one down in the top of the seventh had the Mustangs threatening, then a single broke the tie as the Mustangs now led 2-1. After a fielder's choice the runner on first stole second as the Mustangs had two runners in scoring position.
A two out single then scored two more runs as Mount Mercy extended their lead now up 4-1. The Mustangs scored three runs on three hits and left one on base.
Peru State went three up three down in the bottom of the seventh as they lost the first game to Mount Mercy.
Alana Krieser (Lincoln) pitched a complete game, striking out six batters, giving up four runs on six hits-three were earned.
Beckmann, Dixon, Lacy, Ohlde and Wilke all tied for hits in game one with one. Wilke had the lone RBI.
Game 2
Peru State and Mount Mercy went three up three down in the first inning of the second game. Mount Mercy with one out in the second singled, then the base runner stole second. The base runner would be left stranded as the Mustangs had no runs on one hit and left one on.
Peru State went down in order in the second inning. Mount Mercy hit a leadoff single in the top of the third. Then a sac bunt moved the runner into scoring position. A strikeout and a ground out ended the half inning.
Cassie Pearson (Aurora, Colo.) hit a single with one down in the home half of the third. Then
Mya Mathes (Ankeny, Iowa) reached on an error as the 'Cats had runners on first and second. Ohlde then reached on a fielder's choice.
Beckmann hit an RBI single to score the first run of the game for the Bobcats. Beckmann advanced to second, but the base runner would be left stranded. Peru State scored one run on two hits, an error and two left on base.
Mount Mercy drew a walk and hit a single to leadoff the fourth inning. Then after a fielder's choice the Mustangs hit an RBI single tying the game at one. Mount Mercy then executed the double steal to get runners in scoring position. Mount Mercy followed with a two RBI single with two down to go up 3-1. The Mustangs scored three runs on three hits and left one on base.
Dixon with two down drew a walk, then
Carlye Rothschild (Eros, La.) singled as the 'Cats threatened with the leading run at the plate. A ground out ended a promising two out rally. Peru State had no runs on one hit and left two on.
Mount Mercy hit a leadoff single in the top of the fifth inning, then after two quick outs a double scored the fourth run of the game for the Mustangs. The next batter hit a home run as Mount Mercy had blown open the game leading 6-1. The Mustangs scored three runs on three hits and left no one on base.
Mathes and Ohlde hit back-to-back to singles as the 'Cats had runners on first and second. Beckmann then hit her second triple of the day scoring Mathes and Ohlde. Wilke had a productive ground out as the Bobcats trimmed the lead to two.
Carli Kohout (Cortland) kept the hot bats alive with a single. Peru State scored three runs on four hits and left one on base in the fifth.
With one down in the sixth, Mount Mercy drew a walk and hit a single as they had runners on first and second. Then a triple scored two as the Mustangs doubled up the 'Cats 8-4. Then a two out RBI single had Mount Mercy up five. Then another RBI single had the Mustangs up 10-4. Mount Mercy scored four runs on four hits, an error and left one on base.
Rothschild hit a leadoff single in the bottom of the sixth, then with one out back-to-back walks from Mathes and Ohlde had the bases loaded. Unfortunately, two strikeouts ended the inning as the Bobcats left the bases juiced. Peru State had no runs on one hit and three left on.
Mount Mercy hit back-to-back singles in the top of the seventh, then a ground out had runners moved into scoring position. A strike out and a groundout ended the half inning. The Mustangs had no runs on two hits and left two on.
German and Dixon hit back-to-back singles with one out in the seventh then both runners advanced into scoring position on a passed ball. A pop up and a strikeout ended the game as Peru State fell to Mount Mercy 10-4 in game two.
Layla Worthington (Holladay, Utah) pitched 4.2 innings, striking out one batter, giving up six runs on eight hits-all six runs were earned.
Cheyenne Leach (Wymore) pitched 2.1 innings, striking out one batter, giving up four runs on six hits-three runs were earned.
Beckmann and Rothschild led the team in hits in game two with two. Beckmann led the team in RBIs with three.
Peru State is back at home for a virtual triple header Tuesday, April 26, as they need to finish their away game against Graceland leading 7-4 in the bottom of the fourth. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. The regularly scheduled doubleheader is set for 4:00 and 6:00 p.m.
