(Peru, Neb.)—On Thursday, April 21, the Peru State baseball team split the road makeup doubleheader at Mount Mercy as they took one of four games in the series. Peru State lost the first game 10-1 and won the second game 5-2. The Bobcats are now 20-24 overall and 17-7 in Heart conference play while the Mustangs are now 25-16 and 14-10.
 
Below is a breakdown of how the makeup double header went…
 
Game 1
 
Johannes Booyens (Johannesburg, South Africa) hit a leadoff single in the top of the first inning. Then with one out Wesley Bradford (Bakersfield, Calif.) hit a single as the Bobcats threatened with runners on the corners. Two strikeouts unfortunately ended the inning as the 'Cats had no runs on two hits and left two on.
 
Mount Mercy with one down in the home half of the first blasted a home run to right field to break open the scoring in game one. The Mustangs were able to get another base runner on from a single, but the Mustangs were unable to bring him around to score. Mount Mercy had one run on two hits and left one on.
 
Angel Andrades (Humacao, P.R.) hit a leadoff single in the top of the second. Blake Denson (Broken Bow) came into pinch run. Garrett Pavletich (Bakersfield, Calif.) with two down hit an RBI single as Denson came into tie the game at one. Peru State scored one run on two hits and left one on in the second.
 
The Mustangs drew a one out walk in the bottom of half the second; then the runner advanced on a throwing error to get into scoring position. Mount Mercy drew another walk and the baserunner from second stole third as the Mustangs threatened with runners on the corners.
 
Two strikeouts ended the Mount Mercy threat in the second inning. The Mustangs had no runs on no hits an error and one left.
 
William Reynolds (Bakersfield, Calif.) hit a leadoff single in the top of third. The inning was quick for the 'Cats as a strikeout and double play ended the top half of the third.
 
Mount Mercy hit a leadoff single in the home half of the third. Two more singles from the Mustangs had the bases loaded. Mount Mercy grounded into a double play but would break the tie as they now led 2-1. Then a double and a single scored two more runs for the Mustangs as the lead grew to three.
 
The Mustangs hit another single as they threatened with runners on first and second, but a strikeout ended a productive inning from the Mustangs. Mount Mercy scored three runs on six hits and left two on.
 
Peru State went three up three down in the top of the fourth inning. The Mustangs' hot day at the plate continued as they started the bottom of the fourth with a leadoff single. The runner then advanced to second.
 
After a productive ground out advanced the runner to third, a triple scored the fifth run of the game for Mount Mercy. Then a single had Mount Mercy leading 6-1. Another single had the Mustangs threatening again with runners on first and second. A double by Mount Mercy had the Mustangs' lead grow to six leading 7-1.
 
Then a sac fly scored the eighth run of the game for the Mustangs. Mount Mercy scored four runs on five hits, an error and left one on base in a big bottom of the fourth.
 
Booyens was hit by a pitch with two down in the fifth, then Reynolds drew a walk as the 'Cats had runners on first and second. The Bobcat runners would be left stranded in the fifth. Peru State had no runs, on no hits and left two on.
 
The Mustangs led off the bottom of the fifth with a walk. A pinch runner came in for the batter, and then advanced to scoring position on a wild pitch. Then with two down a sac fly scored the ninth run of the game for Mount Mercy as they led 9-1. Mount Mercy scored one run on no hits and left no one on in the fifth.
 
Diego Rivera (Carolina, P.R.) singled with two down in the top of sixth. Denson came into pinch run. A strikeout ended any threat from the Bobcats. Peru State had no runs on one hit and left one on base.
 
Mount Mercy led the bottom of the sixth off with a double. Then with two down an RBI single scored the tenth run of the game. The Mustangs scored one run on two hits and left one on.
 
Booyens with two down in the top of the seventh hit a double and then Reynolds reached first on an error as the 'Cats had two runners in scoring position. A ground out ended the game as the 'Cats had no runs on one hit an error and left two on. Peru State lost to Mount Mercy 10-1.
 
John Laureano (Gurabo, P.R.) pitched 3.1 innings striking out three batters giving up eight runs on 13 hits-all eight runs were earned. Laureano took the loss. Fernando Falero (Carolina, P.R.) pitched 2.2 innings striking out one batter while giving up two runs on two hits.
 
Booyens led the Bobcats in hits with two in game one. Pavletich had the lone RBI in game one.
 
Game 2
 
In the top of the first inning with one down, Reynolds hit a single and then advanced to second base. After a productive groundout from Jose Solis (Los Santos, Panama) that moved Reynolds to third, Jesus Tavares (Santo Domingo, D.R.) singled as the 'Cats scored the first run of game two. Tavares advanced to second and third on a throwing error. Peru State scored one run on two hits, an error and left one on base.
 
The Mustangs singled to start the bottom of the first. The base runner then stole second to get into scoring position. Mount Mercy was unable to bring the runner home as they had no runs on one hit and left one on.
 
Doel Pina (Fajardo, Puerto Rico) was hit by a pitch on the top of the second but later in the inning would be bounced in a fielder's choice. Peru State was not able to muster anything on the base paths. Mount Mercy went three up three down in the second.
 
Peru State went down in order in the top of the third. Mount Mercy led the bottom of half the third with a single. Then a sac bunt moved the pinch runner over into scoring position. Then a single tied the game at one.
 
After a fielder's choice the baserunner stole second and a drawn walk had the Mustangs threatening with runners on first and second. A single then had Mount Mercy take a 2-1 lead. The Mustangs scored two runs on three hits and left two on base.
 
Tavares drew a walk in the top of the fourth inning. Then with two down Devin Adams (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) hit a single as the 'Cats threatened with runners on first and second.
 
Xavier Wright (Calumet City, Ill.) blasted a three run homerun over the fence as the Bobcats retook the lead as they now led 4-2. Pavletich then singled but that was the last hit of the inning for the 'Cats. Peru State scored three runs on three hits and left one on.
 
Mount Mercy with two down in the fourth threatened as they reached on an error and then a double had runners in scoring position. The 'Cats held defensively as Mount Mercy had no runs on one hit, an error and left two on base.
 
Tavares drew a two out walk in the top of the fifth, but he then would be caught stealing to end the top of the fifth. Mount Mercy hit two singles with one out in the bottom of the fifth but two strikeouts ended the fifth inning. The Mustangs had no runs on two hits and left two on.
 
Andrades hit a leadoff home run in the top of the sixth inning. The 'Cats now led 5-2. Adams singled with one down in the sixth but a pop up and a strike out ended the top half of the sixth. Peru State scored one run on two hits and left one on.
 
Mount Mercy was able to record a two out single but was unable to bring the runner around to the plate. The Mustangs had no runs on one hit and left one on.
 
Peru State went three up three down in the seventh. The Mustangs with one down drew a walk. Then with two down a single had runners on the corners with the tying run at the plate. The batter fouled out as the Adams got the save and did a backflip in celebration. Peru State defeated Mount Mercy 5-2.
 
Enmanuel Cabrera (Villa Gonzalez, D.R.) pitched three innings striking out three batters while giving up two runs on four hits-the two runs were earned. Cabrera earned the win. Juan Rodriguez (Bayamon, P.R.) pitched one inning striking out one batter and only gave up a hit. Edgar Santos (Barquisimeto, Venezuela) pitched one inning striking out two batters and only giving up two hits. Sebastian Rodriguez (Cayey, P.R.) pitched one inning striking out three batters and only giving up one hit. Adams earned the save pitching one inning, striking out one batter giving up one hit.
 
Adams led the team in hits as he had two in game two. Wright led the team in RBIs as he had three in game two.
 
Peru State is on the road as they face Clarke for a four-game series on Saturday, April 23, and Sunday, April 24. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. each day.