(Peru, Neb.)—The Peru State softball team split with Mount Mercy on Friday, April 14, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Bobcats lost the first game 9-1 in five innings and came back and won the second game 2-1.
 
Below is a breakdown of how each game of the doubleheader went…
 
Game 1 L 9-1 (F/5) @ Mount Mercy
 
Both teams went three up three down in the top of the first inning. In the second, Mount Mercy threatened with back-to-back two-out singles to have runners on the corners but no damage was done.
 
Peru State went down in order for a third straight inning. Mount Mercy hit a one-out double and then a single again had the Mustangs with runners on the corners but the threat subsided. Jami Mans (Fairbury) hit a triple into right field and she would then score on a passed ball giving the Bobcats a 1-0 lead. Peru State scored one run on one hit and left one on in the fourth.
 
The Mustangs had runners in scoring position after a walk and a single but again were unable to bring any runners across. Peru State in the top of the fifth inning went 1-2-3.
 
Mount Mercy in the home half of the fifth broke the game wide open after a walk and a singled bunt. Then an error tied the game at 1-1. A three RBI single then made the score 4-1 Mustangs.
 
Later in the inning a walk and single loaded the bases for Mount Mercy. An RBI single then made the score 5-1. Then a single up the middle scored two more runs. A double to left scored the Mustangs eighth and ninth runs of the game effectively ended the game 9-1 via the mercy rule.
 
Cheyenne Leach (Wymore) pitched four innings striking out a batter giving up five runs only two were earned. Bailey Bitz (Ravenna) tossed 0.1 innings in the circle giving up four earned runs on four hits.
 
Mans recorded the only hit of the game for the Bobcats.
 
Game 2 W 2-1 @ Mount Mercy
 
Mans hit a one-out single in the top of the first then Morgan Wilke (Bakersfield, Calif.) drew a walk and both baserunners were able to move into scoring position via a passed ball. Kaelyn Hamblen (Papillion) hit a two RBI single up the middle as the Bobcats took an early 2-0 lead.
 
Lanie Dreyer (Anniston, Ala.) hit a single up the middle with two outs and Hamblen advanced to third. Autumn Dixon (Stilwell, Kan.) drew a walk to load the bases. A strikeout ended the top of the first. Peru State scored two runs on three hits and left three runs on base.
 
Mount Mercy drew a leadoff walk and then with a walk and single later in the inning the bases were loaded for the Mustangs. Back-to-back strikeouts ended the Mount Mercy threat.
 
Mans was able to get a two-out single in the top of the second but the Bobcats were unable to bring the runner around to score. The Mustangs went down in order in the home half of the second inning.
 
Carlye Rothschild (Eros, La.) and Dixon both reached on an error in the top of the third but a flyout ended any hopes of the Bobcats scoring. Mount Mercy went three up three down in the third.
 
Ellie Ohlde (Fairbury) hit a single to left but later in the fourth a double play ended the inning for Peru State. Mount Mercy drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the fourth. The runner then stole second but a groundout to the pitcher ended the inning.
 
Wilke hit a leadoff single in the top of the fifth but was then out on a fielder's choice. Peru State still could not get another runner across the plate. The Mustangs went 1-2-3 in the fifth.
 
Dixon drew a leadoff walk in the top of the sixth but was later thrown out in a fielder's choice situation. In the home half of the sixth the Mustangs got a two-out rally going starting off with a walk. Then a hit by pitch had runners on first and second. An RBI single to left field scored the first run of the game for the Mustangs. Mount Mercy scored one run one hit and left two on in the sixth.
 
Mans hit a leadoff double in the top of the seventh but a flyout, strikeout and a ground out would leave her stranded. In the bottom of the seventh the Mustangs hit a leadoff single. Then a sac bunt moved the runner over to second. Later in a fielder's choice situation the Mustangs would have runners on the corners.
 
Mount Mercy had runners in scoring position but a flyout to left field ended the game as Peru State would take the 2-1 win.
 
Dreyer took the win pitching a complete game striking out four batters and only giving up one earned run.
 
Mans led the way with three hits in the game. Hamblen drove in two RBIs.