(Peru, Neb.)—On Sunday, May 8, the Peru State baseball team was eliminated by Mount Mercy 12-10 from the Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament in an offensive slugfest. The Bobcats finished the season 22-33 overall while the Mustangs improve to 33-19 overall and will face the winner of No. 2 Clarke and No. 5 Baker at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, May 8.
 
In the top of the first Mount Mercy hit two singles with one down to put pressure on the Bobcat defense early. The next batter reached on a fielder's choice but then an error allowed the first run of the game to score.
 
The Mustangs then hit a sac fly to center field to lead 2-0 early. Mount Mercy scored two runs on two hits, an error and left one on in the first. Peru State went three up three down in the bottom of the first.
 
Mount Mercy drew a one out walk, but the runner was then later bounced in a fielder's choice. A fly out ended the half inning. The Mustangs had no runs on no hits and left on one in the second.
 
Jesus Tavarez (Santo Domingo, D.R.) was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the second with one down. Then Angel Andrades (Humacao, P.R.) hit a single as the 'Cats now had runners on the corners. Blake Denson (Broken Bow) came into pinch run for Andrades.
 
Tavarez came into score on an error by the pitcher as Denson moved into scoring position. The 'Cats now trailed the Mustangs 2-1. Josue Francisco (San Cristobal, D.R.) reached on a fielder's choice but Denson was bounced at third. Francisco then stole second to get into scoring position.
 
Garrett Pavletich (Bakersfield, Calif.) drew a two out walk, but a fielder's choice ended the inning. Peru State scored one run on one hit, an error and left two on base in the second inning.
 
Mount Mercy hit a leadoff double, and then with one down the runner moved into scoring position on a balk. An RBI triple scored the third run of the game for the Mustangs. A pop up and a fly out ended the top half of the inning. Mount Mercy scored one run on two hits and left one on base in the top of third.
 
Xavier Wright (Calumet City, Ill.) drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the third. Then William Reynolds (Bakersfield, Calif.) hit a single as the 'Cats had runners on first and second. Wesley Bradford (Bakersfield, Calif.) laid down a perfect sac bunt as the runners moved into scoring position.
 
Doel Pina (Fajardo, P.R.) came into pinch run for Wright. Then Jose Solis (Los Santos, Panama) hit a productive ground out as the 'Cats pulled within one trailing 3-2. Tavarez then hit an RBI single as the Bobcats tied the game at three. Andrades hit a single, but a fielder's choice ended the inning. Peru State scored two runs on three hits and left two on base.
 
Mount Mercy and Peru State went three up three down in the fourth inning. Mount Mercy hit two singles with one out. Then both runners advanced into scoring position on an error. Mount Mercy had another runner reach base on a fielder's choice but the 'Cats threw out the runner trying to plate the go ahead run in the fifth. The Mustangs had no runs on two hits, an error and left two on base.
 
Solis with two down in the bottom fifth hit a single and the Tavarez walked as the Bobcats threatened with runners on first and second. Andrades hit an RBI single as Peru State took a 4-3 lead. A ground out ended the inning. Peru State had one run on two hits and left two on in the fifth.
 
Mount Mercy drew a leadoff walk in the top of the sixth, then the base runner advanced to second on an error. The Mustangs drew another walk as they had runners on first and second. Then the next batter reached on a fielder's choice bunt but pitcher Edgar Santos (Barquisimeto, Venezuela) made a heady play and got the out at third.
 
Then a single loaded the bases for the Mustangs. The next batter hit a two RBI single as Mount Mercy retook the lead 5-4. A third straight single made the score 6-4 Mustangs. A walk reloaded the bases for Mount Mercy.
 
Then another two RBI single had the Mustangs doubling up the 'Cats winning 8-4. Mount Mercy got another runner on base from a hit by a pitch but a strike out and a ground out ended the half inning. The Mustangs scored five runs on four hits, an error and left three on base.
 
Pavletich and Johannes Booyens (Johannesburg, South Africa) drew back-to-back walks to leadoff the bottom of the sixth. Then Wright reached on an error, but Booyens was thrown out at second. Reynolds then hit an RBI single to make the score 8-5. Bradford grounded out but moved the runners into scoring position.
 
Solis hit a two RBI single as the 'Cats cut the lead to one trailing 8-7. Then Tavarez singled as the Bobcats had runners on the corners. Andrades continued his hot day at the plate with a two RBI double as Peru State took a 9-8 lead. Denson came into pinch run.
 
Francisco then drew a walk. Pavletich then hit an RBI single as the 'Cats now were in the double digits leading the Mustangs 10-8. A ground out ended an inning that took 55 minutes ands saw 11 runs come into score between the teams. Peru State had six runs on five hits, an error and left two on in the sixth.
 
Mount Mercy with one down hit a single. Then with two outs back-to-back singles got the Mustangs back within one as they were trailing 10-9. Mount Mercy scored one run on three hits and left two on base.
 
Reynolds drew a walk with one down in the bottom of the seventh and then Bradford singled as the 'Cats had runners on first and second. Peru State pulled off the double steal to perfection to get both runners into scoring position. Two strikeouts ended the inning. The Bobcats had no runs on one hit and left two on base.

Mount Mercy was able to draw a walk in the top of the eighth, but the other three batters struck out to end the half inning. Peru State went 1-2-3 in the bottom eighth.
 
The Mustangs with one down in the top of the ninth hit back-to-back singles to put pressure on the Bobcat defense. Then with two down a two RBI double saw the Mustangs retake the lead 11-10. Then an RBI single gave the Mustangs an insurance run as they were now leading 12-10. The Mustangs scored three runs on four hits and left one on base in the ninth.
 
Booyens hit a leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth and then was bounced in a double play. A ground out ended the game. Peru State lost 12-10 and has been eliminated from the Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament effectively ending their season.
 
Santos pitched 5.1 innings, striking out three batters giving up seven runs on eight hits-five runs were earned. Devin Adams (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) pitched 3.2 innings striking out eight batters giving up five runs on nine hits-all five were earned. Adams took the loss.
 
Andrades led the way in hits and RBIs as he had four hits and three RBIs in the game.
 
Peru State finished 22-33 overall and 18-14 in Heart conference play. Peru State baseball will be back next spring.