(Bartlesville, Okla.)- Peru State College dropped both ends of a Thursday doubleheader on the road against the Eagles, falling 12-2 in eight innings in game one and 8-0 in a seven-inning contest in game two.
Game 1- PSC 2 - OWU 12
The Bobcats were forced to play from behind early in the opener as the Eagles plated five runs in the bottom of the first inning and never relinquished control. The home team added multi-run frames in the third, fourth, fifth and eighth innings to secure the 12-2 run-rule victory.
Wyatt Strong accounted for nearly all of Peru State's offense, going 2-for-3 with two solo home runs and a hit-by-pitch. Strong put the Bobcats on the board in the top of the second inning with a solo shot to trim the deficit to 5-1. He later added his second homer in the eighth, cutting the margin to 10-2 at the time and providing both of Peru State's runs in the contest.
Kevin Diaz made the start for the Bobcats, working three innings and taking the loss after allowing seven runs — four earned. The bullpen combined to cover the remaining 4 2/3 innings, as Peru State pitchers totaled six strikeouts but issued seven walks and surrendered eight hits.
Defensively, the Bobcats committed three errors, leading to three unearned runs. Offensively, Peru State finished with four hits and left seven runners on base, unable to generate a sustained rally against efficient pitching from the Eagles.
Game 2- PSC 0 - OWU 8
The Bobcats were unable to bounce back in game two, falling 8-0 in a seven-inning matchup.
The Eagles struck first in the bottom of the opening inning, capitalizing on a Bobcat error to take a 1-0 lead. The home team added two more runs in the third inning, using a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly to stretch the advantage to 3-0.
The decisive moment came in the fifth. With the bases loaded, the Eagles delivered a grand slam to extend the lead to 7-0. A solo home run in the sixth pushed the margin to 8-0 and capped the scoring.
Peru State was limited to three hits but created opportunities with three walks and two hit batters, ultimately stranding eight runners. The Bobcats also swiped two bases, showing aggression on the base paths, but three defensive errors and extended innings on the mound proved costly.
Peru State's pitching staff worked through constant traffic as the Eagles finished with eight runs on eight hits and seven walks. While the Bobcats managed to keep the game within reach through the early innings, the fifth-inning grand slam created too large a gap to overcome.
The Eagles' pitchers combined for a dominant effort in game two, recording 10 strikeouts and holding Peru State to three hits without allowing the big inning the Bobcats needed to mount a comeback.
